LSSU Welcomes New Dean of Student Affairs

After an extensive search, Lake Superior State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Beazley as the new Dean of Student Affairs effective August 1st, 2019. Dr. Beazley will report to Dr. Rodney Hanley, LSSU’s President, and serve as a member of his senior management team.

“LSSU is looking forward to welcoming Dr. Beazley as our new Dean of Student Affairs this August.” President Hanley said, “Dr. Beazley is a proven leader, and brings years of experience in all aspects of directing student affairs to the University. After months of searching, we are confident we chose the right person for the job.”

Dr. Beazley will bring an extensive knowledge of student services, policies, and procedures to lead the University’s strategic planning efforts with respect to student affairs. He will be responsible for development and continuous assessment of the campus experience, as well as student programming and support services. In addition to these duties, Dr. Beazley will also provide leadership for establishing and achieving University goals for the retention of students, enhancing the campus environment, and further building student opportunities for co-curricular offerings.

“The search committee was impressed by Dr. Beazley’s authenticity, intellect, education, and experience,” Dr. Lynn Gillette, LSSU Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs stated. “We were also impressed by his vision for Student Affairs, his ability to build strong teams, and his concern for students. We believe that he will be a tremendous asset to Lake State, and we are excited about him joining the university.”

Dr. Beazley holds a doctoral degree in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, a master’s in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, along with two bachelor degrees – one in Theology, and one in Music, from Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Beazley brings many years of experience, grounded in a student-centered approach, to LSSU. After graduation, Dr. Beazley worked his way up the ladder at his alma mater, Loyola University Chicago, starting first as the Coordinator for the Indonesia Secondary Education Development Program, and then serving as a Graduate Assistant in the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness.

In 2010, Dr. Beazley relocated to Rome, Italy to become the Director of Resident Life and Student Services, where he was responsible for developing initiatives to create a healthy living and learning environment for students. He also managed the full conduct policy and practice review process and alignment of Loyola University’s Rome and Chicago campuses.

In 2013, he returned to Chicago, Illinois to become the Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Assessment. In this role, he served as Chief Assessment Officer for the Division of Student Development, providing leadership for the assessment efforts of 16 departments. He also co-created an Assessment Certificate Program with DePaul University.

In 2016, at the request of the President of Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Beazley returned to Rome as a Special Internal Consultant, where he rectified institutional underperformance amid personnel turnover, leading to an improvement in staff morale. Following this, Dr. Beazley accepted the position of Dean of Rome Student Life.

As Dean of Rome Student Life, Dr. Beazley was responsible for new student orientation, community engagement, student assessment, immigration compliance, resident life, student wellness and conduct, and Title IX investigations. In addition, he managed Rome Student Life’s annual budget, emergency response team readiness, and the risk management functions. He also developed immersive experiences throughout Europe, as well as designed and oversaw 25 university-sponsored study trips per year. On top of all of this, he developed enrollment management, recruitment, and retention capabilities, while collaborating with faculty and academic administration to integrate more closely curriculum and co-curriculum.

“Drawing on my experience of the past several years, what I expect and aspire to do is build a vibrant community,” said Dr. Beazley. “To appeal to a broader group of students, one of the things I’ve done in Rome, is to zero in on that idea. I’d like to think that the experience I have will help students not only develop into a university community, but then also find a real sense of belonging in that community.”

Dr. Beazley and his family are relocating to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan from Rome, Italy.