UNC student affairs administrator named new Richmond College dean

A student affairs administrator from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be the new dean of Richmond College beginning June 1.

Joseph Boehman comes to Richmond with more than 15 years of experience in higher education administration, currently as assistant director for residential education at UNC-Chapel Hill.

He received “overwhelming support” from the various campus constituencies he met with during his campus visit, said Steve Bisese, vice president for student development. “He has an excellent record of creativity at UNC-Chapel Hill and has demonstrated specific interest and accomplishment in the areas of residential theme programs, crisis management and collaborative learning initiatives.”

Bisese added that Boehman is “very approachable and eager to meet with students on a personal basis.” Also, he has a history of working with residential learning communities, “which is an important topic at Richmond at this time. He will be helpful in reaching our goals in this area.”

Bisese said he is “proud of Dan Fabian for serving so well as the interim dean so we could go through the extended search” for the new dean.

Boehman holds a B.F.A. in music from Ithaca College, an M.A. in college and university administration from Michigan State University and an Ed.D. from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining UNC-Chapel Hill, Boehman was assistant director for residence life and coordinator of residence education at East Carolina University.

He has taught at the undergraduate and graduate level and has been involved in several professional associations, serving a term as president of North Carolina Housing Officers. He has made numerous presentations to student and professional audiences on personal-professional balance, connecting work to personal mission, strategically linking values to action and organizational effectiveness.

“I am very excited to have been selected the dean of Richmond College,” said Boehman. “I was so impressed by everyone I met during my visit to campus. The University of Richmond is an amazing place with a rich tradition and a promising future. I am honored to be invited into the University and Richmond College family. My hope is that I will be able to work with the Richmond College students, alumni, staff and other stakeholders to explore what it means to be part of Richmond College today, and more importantly, what it could be. I’d like to develop a shared vision of the college that will bring out our collective best as a community. I expect great things can come out of the journey to define that shared vision.”