Campus Connection

Vitaliano Figueroa will lead Student Affairs

The assistant vice president for student affairs at San Diego State University will become the leader of student life at UW-La Crosse. Vitaliano Figueroa has been named the university’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. The vice chancellor and dean provides leadership, vision and strategic direction to the division while serving as a key member of the university’s leadership team. He will begin the position Feb. 5, 2018. UWL Chancellor Joe Gow says Figueroa rose to the top of the group of four highly qualified finalists in the national search. “Dr. Figueroa has an impressive record as a Student Affairs leader, and he will be an outstanding Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students here at UWL,” says Gow. “I know from the feedback we received from our campus community that everyone is just as excited as I and my leadership team colleagues are about welcoming him to our community.” Figueroa says his visit to campus in October made him realize the position was a good fit. “Once I had the opportunity to meet with the students, faculty, staff, Chancellor Gow and the cabinet, my thoughts about the position and the university were confirmed,” says Figueroa. “I knew that UW-La Crosse was an excellent fit for me, both professionally and personally. I look forward to bringing my passion and energy to the university in an effort to work collaboratively to support student success.” He looks forward to building on the tradition of a strong, active student body. “UWL has a great history of supporting students, providing an engaging community and helping students develop into leaders,” says Figueroa. “I am looking forward to building on those strengths.” Paula Knudson, the previous vice chancellor, left UWL in June to become vice president for Student Affairs at Northern Iowa University. Barbara Stewart, who has been named the first vice chancellor of the newly created office of diversity and inclusion at UWL, has been the interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.