Sheerer named ECU vice chancellor for student life

GREENVILLE, NC  —   Dr. Marilyn Sheerer, a former dean of the College of Education who has also held campus-wide leadership roles at East Carolina University, has been named vice chancellor for student life.

Chancellor Steve Ballard, announcing the appointment, said, “Marilyn Sheerer is one of the best leaders I have known in my higher education career. She has a long history of sterling achievements, and she is admired and respected across the campus and across the state. She has boundless energy and enthusiasm, and she knows how to get things done. She will do a great job.”

Ballard added that Sheerer received a strong endorsement from student leaders and enjoys close working relationships with student organizations.

Sheerer will oversee many non-academic areas of the university, including housing and dining, recreation services, the Student Health Service, the student bus system, sororities and fraternities, the student center, and the campus police department. In addition, Ballard said, she will play an important role in re-energizing ECU’s leadership programs and expanding service and engagement opportunities.

Sheerer said, “I am honored to be selected for this position. This is an exciting time to be part of East Carolina, and the staff members in this division are outstanding. I look forward to helping enhance students’ experiences on our campus.”

Ballard said, “I’ve worked with Marilyn for two and a half years on a variety of problem- solving and capacity-building opportunities. ECU is lucky to have her, and I am delighted that she will continue to be a member of the university’s leadership team. Student Life will be an innovative organization under her leadership, and she will be a model for how great leaders work together.”

Sheerer joined ECU as a faculty member in 1996 and was named dean of education in 1998. Under her leadership, the College of Education won several national awards. She has been serving as interim vice chancellor for student life since last summer. Previously, she was interim vice chancellor for university advancement. She succeeds Dr. Garrie Moore, who is now vice chancellor for student development for the City University of New York System.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg State College in Pennsylvania, a master’s in student personnel in higher education from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and supervision from Ohio University. Before joining ECU, she held student life positions at Temple University and faculty and administrative positions at National-Louis University in Chicago, Ohio University, Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and Northern Illinois University.
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