Leadership

Todd Adams

Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs

Todd comes to DU from Northwestern University, where he served as associate vice president and dean of students since 2013. Prior to that Todd was at Duke University where he held numerous leadership roles in student affairs. He is a highly respected and collaborative leader. He has built successful student-centered operations at two of the finest institutions in the country, and his vision and compassion for students is widely recognized and respected across the student affairs field. In his former role at Northwestern, Todd oversaw areas that provide resources, services and support significant to the student experience, including the first-year experience, new student and family programs, career advancement, off-campus life, student assistance and support services, and student conduct. He has been responsible for crisis response and emergency preparedness across the Division of Student Affairs, and collaborated frequently with academic, auxiliary, and other institutional and community partners to serve students.

Todd provided leadership in the crafting and implementation of a university-wide sexual misconduct policy and assisted in the launch of Northwestern’s Office of Equity. He transitioned student disability services to AccessibleNU, with staff dedicated to assistive technology and promoting concepts of universal design for learning, and increased funding to support undergraduate, graduate and professional students who experience health-related and other emergency needs. Todd served on Northwestern’s behavioral consultation team and the undergraduate council in the provost’s office, and he taught in the Master of Science in Higher Education program at Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy.

Todd is a longtime member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, where he has served as the national co-chair of the Fraternity and Sorority Knowledge Community. He also assisted in creating the Highly Selective Institution Network for the National Orientation Directors Association and served as its inaugural co-chair. In addition to his administrative roles, at Duke University Todd also taught in the Program in Education and was honored with the Excellence in Advising award by Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and holds a doctorate from the Peabody School at Vanderbilt University.

Meghan C. Dimsa, EdD

Executive Director of Strategy and Communication

Meg Dimsa comes to DU from Georgetown University where she served as the Executive Director of Campus Recreation, Health, and Wellness since 2009. Prior to that, Meg worked at the University of Missouri – Columbia (Mizzou) where she held a variety of leadership roles.

Currently, Meg serves as the Executive Director of Strategy and Communication for Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at the University of Denver. She is a strategic-thinking visionary leader with over 19 years of experience and success leading various campus-wide initiatives, facilities management operations, large-scale event programming, budget management, student engagement and advocacy, and team leadership/mentorship. Her professional interests include: comprehensive proactive health promotion practices to holistically address health education and learning outcomes among diverse populations; physical activity as one method to mitigate anxiety, stress, depression, boost resiliency, self-efficacy, academic and career success, while creating organic opportunities for social engagement and thriving; community health and equity through service work in South Africa and the United States; project management; leadership practices to build and foster inclusive and efficient teams; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as the foundational fabric woven throughout all areas of this work.

Meg holds a BS degree in exercise psychology from West Virginia University, an M.Ed. in kinesiology and physiology with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology from Bowling Green State University, an M.A. in executive leadership with an emphasis on the importance of the student co-curricular experience from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and an Ed.D in higher education leadership with an emphasis on comprehensive and proactive health promotion strategies from Creighton University.  Additionally, Meg is a Project Manager and holds many national health, wellness, and coaching certifications.

Emily Donnery

Executive Assistant, Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence

Emily comes to us most recently from the Yale School of Management, where she served as the assistant director and, before that, the program coordinator, of Academic Affairs and Student Life.

As executive assistant, Emily works closely with the central SAIE office and provide administrative and operational support to the Vice Chancellor and Assistant Vice Chancellor, Chris Roby. She supports divisional programs and communication efforts.

Emily brings significant experience to this role, including communication, event oversight, operations, and budget management. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Anthropology from the University of New Hampshire, and before her time at Yale she worked at both Amnesty International and Think Food Group, LLP.

Niki Latino

Dean of Students & Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence

Dr. Niki Latino is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence at the University of Denver. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees at DU. Her PhD is in higher education teaching and learning, with specialties in inclusive leadership and inclusive excellence. She has taught at DU, at the graduate and undergraduate levels and serves on graduate student research committees. Her passion is creating inclusive learning environments and equitable access to learning for all students

Tamara White, Ph.D

Associate Dean of Students

Tamara D. White, Ph.D. currently serves as Associate Dean of Students and Interim Director of the Cultural Center for the division of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at the University of Denver. Dr. White formerly served as the Vice President of Enrollment Services and Student Success at Front Range Community College, the Dean of Students at the Community College of Aurora, and the Director of Admission and Access Policy for the Colorado Department of Higher Education. She spent most of her professional career in higher education, serving in roles in student life, multicultural affairs, leadership, and residence life. Dr. White earned her doctorate in higher education from the University of Denver. She has two children, a 19-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.

Michael J. LaFarr

Executive Director, Health & Counseling Center

Dr. Michael LaFarr is the Executive Director of the Health & Counseling Center at the University of Denver. He earned his BA in Education from Johnson State College in 1993, his MA in Higher Education from the University of Denver in 2008, and his PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in 2010. Previously Michael was the Executive Director of Health and Wellness at Brandeis University and was also the former Director of Student Affairs at the Harvard School of Public Health. Michael served in the Peace Corps of the United States, working in Education and Health Promotion in Mali, West Africa. His professional interests include health care disparity & access, health and wellness, college mental health, differences in learning, grief counseling, giftedness, psychodynamic treatment, sexual therapy, non-majority sexual orientation & transgender mental health.

Shana Alston

Executive Director, Housing & Residential Education

Shana serves as the Executive Director of Housing and Residential Education at the University of Denver. In that role, Shana provides strategic leadership for residential education, operations and off-campus housing services. Shana strives to enhance both the student and staff experience while improving housing administrative and operational processes by significantly advancing residential educational experience, enhancing housing technology, growing staff development opportunities, strategic communication, and hiring & recruitment processes. Shana holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a Master’s of Science degree in Educational Counseling from Monmouth University. She has worked at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Monmouth University, Philadelphia University (Thomas Jefferson University- East Falls), and Temple University during her professional career. Shana values professional involvement and is also an active member of ACUHO-I. She currently serves as the Chair Elect of the ACUHO-I Foundation.

Chris Roby

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Engagement & 4D Experience

Chris joins us most recently after 15 years at Duke University, where he served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Executive Director of University Center Activities and Events. Chris is a proven leader in bringing talented staff together in support of the student experience, and in intentionally developing signature community-building spaces with the goal of creating engaged, inclusive spaces for all students to learn, grow, and thrive.

Chris comes to us with 32 years of experience in Student Affairs, with an extensive portfolio in student activities, strategic planning, facilities and renovation planning, budget management, and extensive work building strong, cohesive teams and engaging diverse students and staff. As Assistant Vice President at Duke, Chris led a comprehensive department including the student involvement and student engagement teams, conference and event services, venue and production management, UCAE’s finance and administration unit, as well as the division’s strategic communications and professional development team. Previous to his time at Duke, Chris led teams at Florida State University, the University of Miami, and Eckerd College, holding roles as union director as well as director of student activities and leadership programs, and as an assistant dean of students.

Chris also has an extensive facilities management portfolio, having been responsible for Duke’s Campus Center complex, Art Centers, Performance and Theater Venues, and non-residential facilities, and at Florida State, providing oversight for the Oglesby Union Complex as well as the Student Life Building, Student Services Building, and the Flying High Circus (yes, a literal circus—ask him about it sometime).

When he is not in the office, Chris enjoys collecting and creating art, antiquing, and getting out and exploring new parks and hiking trails with his family.