Framingham State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Meg Nowak as Dean of Students, effective January 16^th, 2018.

Nowak is currently the Vice President of Student Affairs at Hartwick College in New York, and has more than 25 years of experience in higher education administration.

“Dr. Nowak has had a distinguished career in higher education, particularly in the area of student affairs,” says FSU President F. Javier Cevallos. “We are truly excited she is joining the University as our new Dean of Students. I’m confident she will be a valuable resource to our students and families.”

Nowak has been at Hartwick College since 2008. As Vice President of Student Affairs, she provides leadership for co-curricular programs and activities that focus on fostering student development and success. This includes overseeing Campus Safety, Counseling Services, Health Services, Intercultural Affairs, Residential Life and Housing, Student Activities and Student Conduct, among other departments.

Prior to her appointment at Hartwick College, Nowak worked at Ithaca College, where she was the Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Services for the School of Business.

She accepts the Dean of Students position already possessing familiarity with Framingham State, having served as the University’s Director of Orientation and First Year Programs from 1997 to 2000.

“I’m very excited about returning to Framingham State,” Nowak says. “The University has an outstanding reputation in Massachusetts for accessibility and academic excellence. The campus has grown by leaps and bounds since I last worked there. I’m looking forward to meeting with the community and experiencing the vibrant culture.”

Nowak says she was attracted to the diversity of FSU, not only in terms of the racial and cultural makeup of the student body, but also the mix of students from different economic backgrounds, different age groups, and students who commute versus those who live on campus.

“I’m most excited to start meeting the students and working with them on ways to improve their educational experience,” she says. “I intend on being a strong advocate for our students.” 

The Dean of Students is responsible for overseeing several offices at FSU, including Student Involvement and Leadership Development (SILD); Career Services and Employer Relations; Residence Life; the Health and Counseling centers; Orientation and First-Year Programs; and the Office of Veterans Services.

“The Dean of Students during the time I previously worked at Framingham State became a lifelong mentor of mine,” Nowak says. “Now I have the opportunity to take on that mentorship role for other staff on campus, which is something I’m really looking forward to.”