Jepson School appoints new associate dean for student and external affairs

July 6, 2009

Kerstin M. Soderlund, dean of students at Longwood University, has been selected as the new associate dean for student and external affairs at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.

Soderlund will begin work on Aug. 10, succeeding Teresa J. Williams, who accepted a position in June as dean of the Lock Haven University Clearfield Campus.

Soderlund has extensive experience in higher education and in the field of leadership studies, including developing a curriculum for a leadership studies minor at Longwood, teaching courses such as Foundations, Leadership and Service, and Leaders and Leadership, supervising internships, cultivating service-learning opportunities for students and serving as an academic adviser.

In her role at Jepson, her responsibilities will include advising students, alumni relations, overseeing experiential learning programs and managing special programs.

"Her knowledge of the academic side of leadership studies, combined with her student affairs background, will mean that she can hit the ground running at Jepson," said Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School. "We are delighted that she is joining us."

Soderlund earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island, a master's of education in counseling psychology from Rutgers University and a doctoral degree in higher education administration from the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education.

Posted July 6, 2009