Dr. Beth Hellwig joined our campus team on Monday, June 5 as the interim vice president of Student Affairs. 

Dr. Hellwig’s background includes working in higher education in New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Washington, Wisconsin, California, North Dakota and on the high seas in a variety of student affairs positions. She has worked in residence life, student unions, study abroad, new student orientation, leadership development, the Dean of Students office, and the National Student Exchange program, as well as the Institute for Shipboard Education-Semester at Sea. She has had the opportunity to help design new residence halls & apartments, a recreation center, restaurants, a new Education and Student Services Building, and chaired a $48.8 million student center project at UW-Eau Claire. Her passion for working with college students began early on in her career and fills her with a sense of purpose in life and gives her a profound sense of joy.

She loves being in the role of supporting students and helping them to be successful. The areas within Student Affairs under Dr. Hellwig’s leadership have included: Athletics, Recreation and Sport Facilities, Housing & Residence Life,  Living/Learning Communities, Student Centers, Dining Services, Student Health Services, Student Counseling Services, the Children’s Nature Academy, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, Clubs and Organizations, Women & LGBTQ Resource Center, Center for Alcohol Studies and Education & Off-Campus Student Life, Student Government, Greek Life, Dean of Students, Sexual Assault Response, Student Judicial Affairs, Veterans Center,  Student Wellness, Activities-Involvement and Leadership. Parent and family programs have also been connected to her supervision. She has been involved with shared governance, chairing the Crisis Response Team and the Inclusivity Team. She also has taught numerous leadership courses throughout her career.

Dr. Hellwig was the first recipient of the Zenobia Hikes Memorial National Award through NASPA for her mentorship of women. She was also selected as a NASPA Region IV East recipient of the Outstanding Senior Student Affairs Officer. Most recently she was honored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs with the Distinguished Service Award at UWEC & given an appreciation award by the student government at San Francisco State University.

Dr. Hellwig just completed two interim placements as a vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at San Francisco State University and the vice president at the University of North Dakota. She has two adult children and a West Highland Terrier support animal named Savannah. She loves table tennis and hopes to find students who might like to play.