SIUE Names Dr. Timothy Staples Director of the East St. Louis Center

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, has named Timothy Staples, EdD, as director of the East St. Louis Center (ESLC), effective Monday, Sept. 23.

Staples' energetic and engaging commitment to the University was recognized during his tenure as the interim director of the East St. Louis Center, a role he assumed in October 2018.

"It is with excitement and genuine hope that I welcome Timothy back to the East St. Louis Center," said Cobb. "I sincerely appreciated the work that he did as interim director in collaboration with the Center's extraordinary leadership team and outstanding program directors. His commitment to the community and recognition of the important role SIUE can and will continue to play as a community partner give me confidence in his ability to take on this important role."

"Certainly, this new role will push beyond the expectations of his previous experience," Cobb added, "but, I am confident he will provide stable, committed, thoughtful and careful leadership that will help SIUE grow, enhance and strengthen its relationships, support strong programming, and leverage and connect the Center and Edwardsville faculty, staff and students in authentic ways."

"In is an honor to be selected to fulfill such an important role for SIUE," Staples said. "The East St. Louis Center has a dynamic staff that provides educational support and services to the community with passion and excellence. I look forward to working with the team to make a difference in the lives of others, just as the Center changed my life when I was a student in East St. Louis District 189."

"The East St. Louis Center provides an abundance of essential programs for the area," said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. "I am confident Dr. Staples will enhance SIUE's connections with the community, and create new programs, processes and policies to enhance our effectiveness there. We look forward to even greater levels of success in the future through his leadership."

As director, Staples' primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Building and enhancing connections with the East St. Louis community, and strengthening coordination between the Edwardsville and East St. Louis campuses
• Managing SIUE ESLC staff and all personnel employed by the University's grant-funded programs
• Assuring the various grant-funded programs comply with University and grantor requirements, as well as state and federal regulations
• Organizing and leading the effort to write and submit proposals for the renewal of grant programs
• Developing new programs that serve the community and add to the health, welfare and educational experiences of area children, including grant funding and donation opportunities, leading team efforts to develop and submit proposals for large, multidisciplinary grant opportunities, and developing community and academic partnerships

Staples joined SIUE in July of 2018 as the inaugural director of the new Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI), housed in the Office of Student Affairs. He provided strategic leadership for the CSDI, initiating and developing four focus areas for the Center: cultural teaching and learning, cultural affirmation, inclusive excellence, and retention.

Under Staples' leadership, the CSDI experienced notable growth in reputation and activity, as he implemented programming focused on creating a more inclusive campus community, and promoted student welfare through advocacy, academic support, diversity education and mentoring.

Prior to joining SIUE, Staples served in various leadership roles such as director of campus life at South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, assistant director for training and leadership development programs at American University in Washington D.C., assistant director of residence life at Miami University in Ohio, residence hall coordinator at Illinois State University, assistant principal for student services at Urbana High School, and dean of students at Valley View School District in Bolingbrook.

Staples earned a bachelor's in historical studies from the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences in 2000. He completed a master's in educational leadership in 2003 and a doctorate in leadership and administration in 2017, both from Aurora University (Ill.).

With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals—from pre-school through adult—in the Metro East region. The Center offers programs that give the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.

SOURCE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville