Seton Hill University President Mary C. Finger, Ed.D., has announced the appointment of Rosalie A. Carpenter as the University’s Vice President for Student Affairs. Carpenter will assume the role in July.

Carpenter succeeds Dean of Students Charmaine Strong, who earlier this year announced her retirement after 27 years of service to Seton Hill. Strong will remain at the University in a part-time capacity as Title IX Coordinator.

“Rosalie Carpenter has led a number of important initiatives to improve student engagement efforts during her 17-year career in higher education,” Finger said. “Rosalie’s outstanding leadership will help in Seton Hill’s efforts to ensure our learning environment remains a collaborative one that supports a comprehensive approach to the success of each student.”

“I am excited to join the Seton Hill University community and eager to work with faculty, staff and students at a Catholic institution that is committed to delivering high-quality learning opportunities while preparing graduates to be global citizens,” Carpenter said. “I am particularly eager to meet Seton Hill students and gain an understanding of their aspirations and how the University can best partner with them to achieve their goals.”

Carpenter, who was selected following a national search, will be responsible for leadership and development of student-centered approaches to support student success in non-academic dimensions of the student experience at Seton Hill, including spiritual development and programming, residential housing and residence life, multicultural and international services and activities, student engagement and involvement, student government, clubs and organizations, and counseling and health care. In addition, she will provide leadership and oversight of the athletic programs at Seton Hill.

Rosalie Carpenter comes to Seton Hill from Spring Hill College, a Catholic, Jesuit institution in Mobile, Ala., where she served as Vice President for Student Affairs.

At Spring Hill, Carpenter managed student involvement, housing and residence life, student conduct and community standards, health services, counseling services, career development, campus ministry, dining services, and the bookstore.  In addition, she coordinated retention efforts and incorporated data analytics in partnership with the Provost and Vice President of Enrollment.  She worked to ensure Spring Hill’s learning environment was a collaborative one and that the College supported integrative approaches to ensure student success. In addition, she championed the student athlete experience by providing leadership to the development of an athletic facility master plan, as well as reviewing handbooks, procedures and practices to ensure student-athlete and coach compliance. 

Prior to her work at Spring Hill, Carpenter served in various capacities at her alma mater, Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., where she received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

Carpenter served as Dean of Students at Stetson, where she provided leadership and strategic vision for a comprehensive Student Affairs Division of more than 70 professionals.  At Stetson, she revitalized the area of Diversity and Inclusion to play a greater role in the student educational experience. 

She also served as Assistant Dean of Students at Stetson and Director of First Year and Transition Programs, where she was responsible for the implementation of the orientation program for over 700 new students and their families.

Carpenter, who is a Fall 2018 doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at the University of South Alabama, received a Master of Science in Positive Organizational Development and Change from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina.