When Jodi Webb came to the University for graduate school, she did not expect her education here would span into a decades-long career.
This academic school year marks her 30th year at the University; she came here through the College Student Personnel program.
Starting out as a hall director, Webb climbed the metaphorical professional ladder over her career, beginning her position as the associate vice president for student affairs this past July. In between those two positions, she also held the positions of academic honesty coordinator, dean of students, associate dean of students and director of first year experience programs.
“I’ve done a lot of different things in Student Affairs,” she said. “Functions have changed, things have changed, people have changed … for me what is most important … is the interactions that I get to have with students.” Her desire to connect and be a part of students’ lives at the University is what motivates her to stay in the career and finds it equally important to stay current with student issues as a whole.
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While some issues may not change much from year to year, the world around campus is always changing, which can affect campus life and culture.
“I think it’s safe to say that students … who come to a residential campus will always have a problem with transition,” Webb said. “We’ve seen the last couple of years, students (being) more active in the political process. I think that’s reflective of what we’ve seen in our world.”
She has also seen students bringing issues with them to campus, including, but not limited to, family and medical problems. Webb said colleges have to prepare to help and support students.
In her upcoming years as the associate vice president for student affairs, Webb hopes to keep staying current with student issues and keep learning more about the way different programs work at the University.
Webb feels fortunate to have the chance to learn more about the programs she is overseeing and now has direct responsibility for. The directors of the University’s accessibility services and counseling center now report to her, and she is now a liaison for the Falcon Health Center.
“Sometimes you think you know things, but once you get down in the weeds, you go, ‘Oh, wait, this isn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be!’” she said.
Webb’s said the top priority in her career is her students. She hopes the students see her as someone who is fair and will listen to their perspectives.
“Over the years, … I’ve had to share information with students that they weren’t really happy about, … but I … hope those students feel that they’ve been treated fairly,” she said.
