Veteran UNC Charlotte staff member Christine Reed Davis recently assumed the new role of associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. She had served as interim dean since June 2013 and looks forward to helping students take full advantage of University life -- from orientation to graduation.
“The mission of the Dean of Students Office is to help students navigate their University experience,” said Davis. “That experience takes many different forms including attendance at orientation programs, participation in leadership and service opportunities, being held accountable for and learning from conduct that does not meet University expectations, involving parents and family members in the University experience, understanding academic procedures and policies and managing crises.”
Davis leads a multifaceted office that oversees new student and family services, fraternity and sorority life, student conduct, volunteer and off-campus outreach, veteran students outreach, women’s programs, minority student support services, parent and family programs and Latino student support services.
In addition, Davis serves as the chair of the Campus Behavioral Intervention Team, chair of the Tuition, Housing and Dining Appeals Committee and as a deputy Title IX coordinator for the University.
“I believe that the biggest challenge facing the Dean of Students Office and my staff is the general perception of students regarding the office,” said Davis. “Many students perceive visiting the office as a negative due to the fact that student conduct is handled as a function of the Dean of Students Office. My biggest goal, and greatest challenge, will be to rebrand and redefine the office within the student culture.”
And she has started already. Davis stated new programs, such as monthly “Niner Noshes” where she invites small groups of students to lunch to learn more about their University experience, and traditional communication vehicles such as print and Web will serve as starting points to make the office more transparent and accessible to students.
Although rebranding an entire department could be a tall order, Davis undertakes the challenge with more than 17 years of experience at UNC Charlotte.
She joined the University in 1997 as a residence coordinator with the Office of Housing and Residence Life and within two years was promoted to assistant director for staff and judicial programs in the Dean of Students Office. In 2006, she was named senior associate dean of students and director for student conduct and outreach.
Lured north in 2012, Davis served nearly a year as assistant dean for conduct for Boston College prior to returning to UNC Charlotte to be interim dean of students.
“I had a strong sense of the various programmatic and service-related functions within the Dean of Students Office thanks to amazing mentorship by the previous Dean of Students, Dr. Michele Howard,” said Davis. “This role felt like a natural career progression for me, and coming back to UNC Charlotte after a brief period of time away at another university felt like coming home.”
Davis refers to her new position as her “dream job” and notes that her history with the University made for a smooth transition eased by pre-established relationships with departmental staff and campus partners.
“This University is powered by the energy, dedication and perseverance of the people who are here, and that is what I love about UNC Charlotte,” said Davis. “I enjoy the collaboration, care for others and genuine interest in making UNC Charlotte the best it can be for everyone.
“That statement is not solely directed at the administration and faculty but also to our students who take on leadership roles, sacrifice their time to serve others, provide feedback about their experiences (both positive and negative) and persist through personal hardships and crisis to walk across that commencement stage,” Davis continued. “I am motivated and energized every day by my interactions with our community.”
Davis lives in Charlotte with her husband and their two children. Inspired by her son’s participation in his school’s cross country team, Davis recently started the Couch to 5K challenge and hopes to complete her first 5K by the end of spring.