After Dr. Becky Spurlock’s resignation earlier this semester as the associate dean of students, Belmont has narrowed down the search for her successor to three candidates, the first being Dr. Dana Walton-Macaulay.
The names of the other two candidates have yet to be released.
Macaulay currently serves as the associate dean of students at the University of Kentucky where she acts as the chief student conduct officer for the university after spending nearly six years as the university’s assistant director of Residence Life for student rights and responsibilities where she ensured compliance with university, state and federal safety policies and coordinated safety and security operations and emergency response planning for 22 campus buildings and 200 staff members.
“I take the aspects of my job which involve less positive circumstances very seriously. Working in student affairs requires that we impact students’ lives in a wide variety of ways,” said Macaulay in her written response to the Belmont Mission and Values Statement required by all applicants. “Students who are involved in the judicial process may already understand the implications of their behavior, but still need help understanding how their behavior will impact their status in the community. Communicating with such a student may require great patience, and persistence.”
Prior to UK, Macaulay served as a law clerk for the University of Arkansas General Counsel and as a claims representative/claims team leader for Progressive Insurance.
She began her career in higher education at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. in 1998 as the coordinator of multicultural programming as well as serving the assistant director of Residence Life through January 2000.
Macaulay earned an Arts Baccalaureate in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1995, a master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration in 1997 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in May 2004.
She is a member of numerous professional organizations and development conferences including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the NASPA/ASCA Conference on Law and Policy in Higher Education. Macaulay is also admitted to practice in the Kentucky Bar.
Macaulay was the recipient of the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award in 2011, Attorney of the Year in the Fayette County Pro Bono program in 2007 and the SWACUHO Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
“I demand and expect excellence of myself at all times. In student affairs, I have come to expect surprises as a regular course of business. My professional goal is to meet the challenges of each day by coming up with the best possible solutions to problems, while maintaining and demonstrating high personal and professional integrity,” Macaulay said in her applicant response.
“Belmont University appears to be an institution where I can lead that life while impacting students.”
Students are invited to Beaman A&B tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to meet Dr. Macaulay.
Other times to meet the two other candidates are on Friday and Monday at 10:00 a.m. in Beaman A&B.