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April Thompson, associate vice president and dean of students at Binghamton University, has been named the vice president of student life and dean of students at Allegheny College. She will assume her new position on August 24.

“We are pleased to welcome April to Allegheny’s leadership team and extend a warm welcome to April and her spouse, Pam Misener, to our community,” said President James H. Mullen, Jr. “April is a creative, dynamic leader whose enthusiasm and respect for students drives a deep bond and commitment to their interests and concerns. She has a strong record of developing partnerships between students, campus life activities, faculty, staff and administrators.”

Among her many professional accomplishments, Thompson has been instrumental in introducing gender-inclusive spaces in residence halls, launching a campus restorative justice program, creating communication networks placing diverse student leadership perspectives at the forefront of decision-making, teaching organizations how to diversify their membership, and advocating for student involvement and action by creating university-wide forums for engagement and dialogue.

At Allegheny, Thompson will be the chief student affairs officer responsible for key aspects of the student experience and will lead the Division of Student Life, which includes the Dean of Students Office, counseling and health and wellness services, residence life, spiritual and religious life, student leadership and involvement, and public safety. She will also collaborate closely with colleagues in the offices of academic affairs, Title IX and athletics and recreation, as well as with the leaders of the engaged learning and civic engagement initiatives in the Allegheny Gateway.

“From my first visit to Allegheny College, I felt a connection to this community. I’m honored to have been selected as Allegheny College’s vice president of student life and dean of students and am delighted to be joining the Allegheny family,” Thompson said. “Throughout the search process, I was most excited to see the role that students play at the college and the rich tradition of student involvement. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with such exceptional students and a team of dedicated student life professionals.”

“Following a nationwide search, April was the clear choice of the search committee for this important position. She is a proven leader at Binghamton University, a public university with more than 17,000 students,” said Eileen Petula, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “April’s experience in helping to create meaningful engagement with students and with the community is impressive.”

Thompson earned her Master of Education in higher education leadership from the University of Arkansas in 1996 and holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Arkansas. She is expected to earn her Ph.D. in the year ahead.

Prior to joining Binghamton University, Thompson was with Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and held progressively responsible positions in undergraduate judicial affairs and the dean of the college office, where she oversaw residential life, the campus center, the Dartmouth Skiway and outdoor programs. She also worked in residence life at Sonoma State University and Ohio University.

About Allegheny College

One of the nation’s oldest liberal arts colleges, Allegheny College celebrated its bicentennial in 2015. A selective residential college in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives.” Allegheny College is known nationally as a place where students with unusual combinations of interests, skills and talents excel. In its 2018 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny among the top six Most Innovative national liberal arts colleges in the country.