Aug. 29, 2000


Gene I. Awakuni Appointed Vice President of Student Services

Gene I. Awakuni, vice president for student affairs at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, has been appointed vice president for student services at Columbia. Awakuni, who also taught courses in ethnic and women's studies during his tenure at California State Polytechnic, assumed his new position in July.

As vice president for student services, Awakuni will be responsible for student services, which is comprised of the University Registrar, Student Information Systems, Student Administrative Services at the Health Sciences campus, Student Financial Services, Lerner Hall operations, Health and Related Services, University Residence Halls, as well as Business Services, which includes dining services, the bookstore, and retail operations.

"I am extremely pleased that Gene will be leading our efforts as we continue to upgrade undergraduate student services at Columbia and look to place a renewed emphasis on improving services for graduate students," said Emily Lloyd, executive vice president for administration. "Gene has a solid track record in student services and a wealth of experience as both an administrator, a faculty member and a specialist in multicultural studies. I am confident that he will bring strong leadership to the department as we move toward the future."

For Awakuni, student services is not merely the nuts and bolts of student support operations, it is a very human endeavor. "Students are at the center of a core set of principles and values under which my division operates and everything we do emanates from this philosophy. I look forward to bringing this spirit with me to a place that shares my commitment," said Awakuni. "I am committed to improving the quality and delivery of services to Columbia's student body and look forward to building upon the student service improvements that have been made over the years."

Since 1993, Awakuni has held the title of vice president for student affairs at California State Polytechnic, where he managed a portfolio of services similar to those provided by Columbia's Student Services Department. He has overseen a budget of over $22 million and has been responsible for student support programs, student enrollment services, housing services and counseling and psychological services, in addition to outreach and recruitment. Prior to 1993, he was assistant vice chancellor for student academic services at the University of California, Santa Barbara and director of the Counseling Center and special assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of California, Irvine.

Awakuni holds an Ed. D. and an Ed. M. in counseling and consulting psychology from Harvard University, an M.S.W. in clinical social work and a B.A. in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has received several awards for his teaching and research in the areas of psychology and multicultural education. In addition to over 30 major papers and invited presentations and workshops on diversity and multiculturalism for both private corporations and public institutions, he recently co-authored with Jeffery Mio Resistance to Multiculturalism: Issues and Interventions (Taylor and Francis, 2000), which examines how to create an inclusive culture within higher education, one that fosters sense of community for all students.

Awakuni succeeds Mark Burstein, former vice president for student services, who was appointed vice president for facilities management in the fall of 1999.