Elam appointed Dean of Students
Beth Elam will serve as Augustana’s new dean of students after spending more than a year as acting dean and previously serving as associate dean.
A discernment committee was formed to evaluate Elam’s experience and qualifications. The committee considered and recommended her – the only candidate – for the position.
“I am excited for Beth,” Sara Desmet, office coordinator of Student Affairs, said. “She is incredibly qualified and has a deep love for Augustana. Personally, Beth has shown a high amount of trust in my abilities and has given me a path to grow in my roles at Augustana.”
Elam now heads the Division of Student Affairs, which encompasses residence life, both intramural and competitive sports, student counseling services, student clubs, dining services and other offices. In the new role, Elam coordinates between offices and directs university resources.
“Everybody has their own certain, maybe different, area they’re focused on, but at the end of the day, we’re all supporting students,” Elam said. “Students are connected in so many different ways, so then I need to connect myself with everybody on campus too.”
Elam also serves as the adviser to the Augustana Student Association (ASA).
“ASA has been probably one of the most delightful parts of this job,” Elam said. “If students are working on an initiative, or they have a project, or they have a program, they let me know about it, and then I can say, let me see how I can be helpful… It’s been fun to work with the students in ASA and go to their meetings and [see] what they’re working on.”
ASA President Annie Johnston spoke positively of her interactions with Elam.
“Beth provides excellent mentorship and advice to not only myself as ASA President but all of the senators on ASA,” Johnston said. “Whenever projects or initiatives are being brainstormed, I always encourage senators to connect with Beth for guidance on navigating the administrative side of things.”
Augustana’s departments were recently subject to campus-wide budget reductions; the Division of Student Affairs was not immune. Student Affairs eliminated the use of StrengthsQuest, a personality test similar to the Myers-Briggs personality test, Elam said.
Elam remains optimistic about her role.
“To be able to see students come in, go through their time here in Augustana, and then see them graduate is, I think, probably one of the thrilling parts of my job,” Elam said. “And if I can make that journey for students a little bit easier, if I can put something in that student’s journey that can help them succeed… that’s what I love to do.”
