August 19, 2021

Interviews set for vice chancellor for student affairs candidates

Three candidates for vice chancellor for student affairs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will meet with constituents during a series of virtual interviews beginning next week.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Tierney J. Bates, assistant vice chancellor for special projects, interim executive director for university career services, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
  • Jeffery Burgin, vice president of student affairs, Talladega College.
  • Kahan Sablo, dean of inclusive excellence, Bard College. 

The visit schedule is: 

  • Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Jeffrey Burgin.
  • Thursday, Aug. 26 – Tierney Bates.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Kahan Sablo.

During their visits, each candidate will meet with the chancellor, his cabinet, civil service and administrative/professional councils, Faculty Senate, Undergraduate Student Council and Graduate and Professional Student Council, and staff in Student Affairs.

The vice chancellor for student affairs reports to the chancellor. The vice chancellor oversees the Dean of Students, Career Development Center, Disability Support Services, Rainbow’s End, Recreational Sports and Services, Student Center, Student Health Services, Sustainability, Touch of Nature Environmental Center and University Housing.

Candidates bring varied experiences to the position

Brief summaries of each candidates’ academic appointments and education are below.

Burgin has been vice president of student affairs at Talladega College since 2019. Prior to that, he was vice provost for student engagement at Kentucky State University from April 2018 to June 2019 and was an assistant professor of education and human development. He served as associate provost and dean of students at Belmont University from December 2013 to November 2017. At Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University from August 2007 to November 2013, Burgin held several roles including vice president for student affairs, dean of students and assistant professor of educational leadership/urban affairs. He also has prior appointments at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, William & Jefferson College, Florida State University and Ohio University. 

Burgin earned his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Alabama and a master’s in education in college student personnel from Ohio University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in African American studies and pre-law from the University of Cincinnati. 

Sablo has been dean of inclusive excellence (chief diversity officer) at Bard College since 2020. Prior to that, he was assistant vice president for university life at George Mason University from 2016 to 2020. Sablo was at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania from 1998 to 2016, where he began as associate vice president, dean of students and director of multicultural programs and in 2009 became vice president for student affairs and deputy Title IX coordinator. He has also held positions at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Fredonia and SUNY College of Technology at Canton. 

Sablo earned a doctorate of education in administration and leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in counseling and psychological services and bachelor’s degree in public justice, both from SUNY at Oswego. He is pursuing a master of social work degree from Fordham University. 

Bates has been the assistant vice chancellor for special projects and interim executive director for university career services at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill since January 2020. From May to November in 2019, he was vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Virginia Union University. At North Carolina Central University, Bates served as assistant vice chancellor for student affairs from January 2017 to May 2019. From 2013 to 2016, Bates was director of The Cultural Center at the University of Louisville after serving as vice president of programs and services with the National Urban League. Bates also held positions at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Bowling Green State University and Baldwin-Wallace University. 

Bates earned a doctorate of education, leadership at Spalding University. He received a master of business administration in leadership and general management from Bryan College, a master’s in higher education administration from the University of Akron and a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications, also from the University of Akron.  

Candidates’ full CVs are available on the chancellor’s website.