Office of Dean of Students appoints two assistant deans

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - James R. Hintz, Purdue University's associate dean of students for Student Activities and Organizations, on Friday (March 8) announced two appointments.

Melissa Gruver will serve as assistant dean of students for Leadership and Civic Engagement. She will be responsible for the leadership development programs and Boiler Volunteer Network. Brandon Cutler will serve as assistant dean of students/director of Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life. Both will begin April 15.

A Tennessee native, Gruver has a bachelor's degree in philosophy and Christian studies from Union University and a master's degree in education/student affairs administration from Baylor University.  She worked in the Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement and the Waco Episcopal Student Center at Baylor University and has been serving as the community engagement coordinator at Texas Christian University. 

"Melissa has experience developing academic and co-curricular service-learning opportunities through her work with student service organizations, faculty and community partners; immersion experiences; leadership seminars; and curriculum design," Hintz said.

Cutler, a native of Iowa, has a bachelor's degree in agriculture studies from Iowa State University and a master's degree in college student personnel from Western Illinois University. He previously served as assistant director of Greek affairs, primary fraternity adviser at Kansas State University and has been serving as assistant director of student life and director of Greek life at Ball State University. He also is the Mid-America Region chapter director for Order of Omega and is an active volunteer for the Association of Fraternity Advisors and the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute. He is a member of Theta Chi fraternity. 

"Brandon brings a wealth of experience developing and implementing strategic planning, community growth, and chapter performance initiatives," Hintz said.

 Fred McCall has been serving as interim assistant dean of students/director of Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life. 

"His contributions in guiding the fraternity, sorority and cooperative community during the past year should be applauded," Hintz said. "Fred will continue in the role of assistant director for Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life after Brandon begins."

Hintz also thanked the search committees. David Nelson, associate director for the Center for Instructional Excellence, chaired the assistant dean of students for Leadership and Civic Engagement search. Roger Stewart, executive director for the Krannert Professional Development Center and adjunct professor of finance, chaired the assistant dean of students/director of Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life search.