Location: Bell Tower Building, Rooms 2560 and 2565
Telephone: (805) 437-8536
Fax: (805) 437-8549
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of the Vice President for Student Affairs office is to recommend policies, guidelines and procedures that will ensure a coordinated delivery and assessment system of student services throughout the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), which includes Enrollment Services, Student Life and Housing and Residential Education.
This Vice President for Student Affairs office ensures a comprehensive clearing system which:
Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Vice President for Student Affairs at California State University Channel Islands (CI), earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of North Texas (UNT). Dr. Sawyer began his academic career as a Communication professor at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas shortly after completing his Masters degree in Organizational Communication Behavior. After two years of teaching and coaching Forensics and Debate at Amarillo College, Dr. Sawyer returned to school to work on his doctoral degree at the University of North Texas in Denton. Upon completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Sawyer was appointed Assistant Dean of Students. Within a period of four years Sawyer was promoted to Associate Dean and finally, Dean of Students at UNT, where he was also a member of the communication faculty. He served as Dean of Students and UNT faculty until he was appointed Founding Dean of Students and Chief Student Affairs Officer at Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers. As the Founding Dean, Sawyer was broadly involved in the strategic planning, development and operations of Florida’s newest state university.
After six and one-half years in South Florida, Dr. Sawyer accepted the position as the Founding Vice President for Student Affairs at CI. Dr. Sawyer has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to CI; after all, how many people have started two new universities? Since his arrival at CI, Dr. Sawyer has dedicated his efforts to hiring, developing and encouraging a diverse student-centered and student-focused Student Affairs division which fosters an inclusive and collegial learning environment.
In 2007 Dr. Sawyer was recognized by the American College Personnel Association with the Senior Practitioner of the Year Award that recognizes outstanding chief student affairs officers. And finally, in May 2008, Dr. Sawyer was awarded by Chancellor Reed and the Trustees of the CSU with the prestigious Wang Family Excellence Award, which recognizes annually four outstanding faculty and one outstanding administrator out of 46,000 faculty and staff in the California State University System.
Ed Lebioda, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, earned his M.S. in Recreation Administration with a minor in exercise physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining CI in 2002, Ed was awarded recognition as a top administrator in his capacity as the Director of Recreation and Leisure Services and Assistant to the Dean at Florida Gulf Coast University, a start-up campus which opened in 1997. In his current role, Ed is primarily responsible for human resources, budget, facilities, and operations within the Division.
George Morten serves as assistant vice president for the Division of Student Affairs at CI. Appointed to the vice president’s Executive Team in June 2006, he is responsible for planning, budgeting, and coordination of program assessment throughout the Division of Students Affairs. He serves on the President’s Assessment Council and represents the Division in the University’s mission-based Academic Centers. He works closely with the Assessment Coordinator for Academic Affairs and individual faculty to develop co-curricular programs for student learning and development.
Dr. Morten began his career in education as a university professor in Counseling Psychology; he was licensed in 1981 as a clinical psychologist in the state of Wisconsin, where he worked as an educator, private practitioner, and clinical consultant. He later broadened his experience in higher education to include work outside the classroom, as a member of Student Affairs. In 2003, he was named Administrator of the Year by the California Association for Post-Secondary Education and Disability. In 2005 and 2006, he was given the prestigious Maximus Award by students to recognize outstanding performance and contributions by faculty, staff, and administrators beyond their call of duty. He co-authored the text Counseling American Minorities: A Cross-Cultural Perspective, as well as a number of journal articles related to cross-cultural psychology.
Before taking the position of assistant vice president for Student Affairs, Dr. Morten served as the Dean of Student Life at CI. He was responsible for a range of programs and services that included: Personal Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Disability Accommodation Services, Career Planning and Preparation, Judicial Affairs, Housing and Residential Education, and Student Activities, Clubs and Organizations. Dr. Morten received his B.A. degree in Sociology and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Janson Chapman, Budget and Operations analyst for the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) office, joined the division in July of 2007. He is responsible for providing analysis and assistance with management of the budget, fiscal management, hiring of personnel and general operations within the Division of Student Affairs. Janson earned his bachelors degree in economics at Strayer University and is currently working toward his graduate degree.
Raquel De Los Santos, executive administrative assistant to the Vice President, joined the Division of Student Affairs in 2004. She works closely with Dr. Sawyer providing daily support and assistance on projects, management of the office, maintenance of his calendar, and supervision of student assistants in the office. Raquel began working at CI in 2002. Prior to that she worked in development and fundraising for over nine years at California Lutheran University and Chaminade College Preparatory in Chatsworth, California. Raquel is currently working towards her B.A. in Sociology at CI.
Amy Powell, administrative assistant for the Vice President for Student Affairs office, earned her B.A. in psychology at California State University Channel Islands in 2007. While working towards her degree, Amy was employed at CI in Housing and Residential Education as a resident assistant. After graduating, Amy continued working in student housing as an assistant resident director.
In October 2008, Amy started in her position as administrative assistant for the Vice President for Student Affairs office. In this role, Amy answers general questions regarding the Division of Student Affairs and the University, assists with scheduling and coordinating interview arrangements for candidates interested in being part of the Division of Student Affairs, helps manage the front office, and assists the Dean of Students and judicial officers in the judicial process.
Toni Rice earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management and her Masters in Business Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. She began working at CI in May 2002 and was responsible for the first new student orientation as the Coordinator of Orientation in the area of Student Leadership and Community. Toni also assisted with all major student activities, clubs and organizations, student leadership, and the Hub, in addition to serving as the Founding Advisor of the Student Programming Board. Toni was subsequently appointed Interim Director of Student Leadership and Community from 2004 to 2005 and assisted with the continued growth of student leaders on campus.
In July 2006 she was appointed Manager of Budget and Staff Resources in the Vice President for Student Affairs office. In this role, Toni was responsible for staff resources and budget, maintaining the integrity of recruitment, and the hiring process for staff and student assistants within the Division of Student Affairs (DSA). She also assisted with all DSA budget-related issues including workshop development and trainings. In addition, Toni also assisted with various projects such as the realization of a future Student Union and was asked to serve as the Interim Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs from March to December of 2007.
In January of 2008 Toni was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. As the Special Assistant, Toni is responsible for all staff resources, including training, for the Division of Student Affairs. In addition, Toni works collaboratively with other members of the campus to ensure that VPSA office programs and services reflect the mission and priorities of the Division; researches and responds to issues or concerns presented to the vice president and requests from the Chancellor's Office; and assists with the development of Division policies and procedures.
Amy Spandrio, coordinator of student communication, earned her B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from CI in 2005. While working towards her degree, Amy was employed at CI in the VPSA office as the assessment and communication assistant. After graduating, Amy continued working in the VPSA office until November 2005, at which time she left to pursue a career as an environmental consultant.
In May 2007, Amy returned to the VPSA office as the coordinator of student communication. In this role, Amy coordinates the production of various publications, including the annual Student Guidebook and divisional annual report, manages project requests submitted by various areas within the division, maintains divisional web pages, and assists with other divisional projects as needed.
