Vice Presidents
In 1976, the Division of Student Affairs was created, unifying departments across campus to better the student experience. Since it’s inception, the division has grown and thrived to allow our students to reach their fullest academic and personal potential.
Video Interview with first five Vice Presidents for Student Affairs
The following individuals have served as Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer since 1976.
Vice President of Student Affairs, 1976-1987
Edward Hammond
2016 Legacy Award Winner
Dr. Edward H. Hammond was born in McAllen, Texas, and reared in the Kansas City, Kan., area.
Dr. Hammond received his bachelor and master’s degrees from Emporia State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Dr. Hammond served as the president of Fort Hays State University for 28 years.
Prior to accepting the presidency at Fort Hays State University in 1987, he held administrative positions at the universities of Louisville, Seton Hall, Southern Illinois, Purdue and Missouri. He is the longest serving president in the Kansas Board of Regents system and the longest serving president in the 110-year history of Fort Hays State University.
Dr. Hammond served as the he held the role as the first vice president of student affairs at the University of Louisville.the first vice president of student affairs at the University of Louisville.
President Hammond has published widely and is recognized as a futurist. He is in demand nationally as a speaker and educational consultant in the areas of risk management, staff and institutional liability, and alcohol education. In recent years, due to Fort Hays State University's success in China, he has also been sought as a consultant and speaker on the world's most populous nation. He is a former President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administration (NASPA).
Dr. Hammond retired from Fort Hays State University in May of 2014.
Vice President of Student Affairs, 1988-1994
Denny Golden
2016 Legacy Award Winner
Dr. Golden is a native of New York City. He is a former scholarship student-athlete, NFL draftee and United States Marine Corps Captain.
He received his BS from the College of the Holy Cross, his MA from Assumption College, and his Ed.D. from Boston College. During the past thirty-five years, Dr. Golden has served as a Dean, Vice President and President at he College of the Holy Cross, Framingham State College, Duquesne University, University of Louisville, and Fontbonne College. Dr. Golden has also taught courses in leadership and higher education administration. He has served as a campus consultant and a member of numerous accreditation teams. He is a former President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administration (NASPA).
Dr. Golden served as Vice President for Student Affairs from 1988 until 1994. During his tenure is credited with expanding on campus housing, enhancing multicultural affairs, and completing construction of the Student Activities Center. Dr. Golden also established the Division of Student Affairs development initiatives and appointed the first Development Officer.
Dr. Golden retired as President of Fontbonne College, located in St. Louis, Missouri, in July 2014.
Vice President of Student Affairs, 1996-2005
Denise Gifford
2016 Legacy Award Winner
Gifford began as resident director at Unitas Tower followed by a number of student affairs positions in her path to becoming vice president of student affairs. After leaving Louisville, Gifford embarked on an adventure to Abu Dhabi as dean of student affairs at Zayed University, the premier United Arab Emirates National University dedicated to the higher education of Emirati traditional age women and men students based on the U.S. model of higher education.
Dr. Denise Dickerson Gifford is the former Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Louisville. Denise's tenure at UofL lasted from 1996 until 2005. In addition to Vice President Denise served as Residence Hall director in Unitas Tower, Director of Housing and Residence Life and Assistant Vice President for Campus Life.
Denise championed many issues while at U of L but her biggest passion was providing international travel opportunities for students. In 1996 Denise and Dr. J. Price Foster, a Professor from the Justice Administration department, worked together to create an interdisciplinary program that would invite outstanding students to take a course and then conduct service projects in Belize.
Since that first trip hundreds of students have participated in the University of Louisville International Service Learning Program. Almost 20 years later the program continues to provide students with a interdisciplinary experience and the opportunity to undertake service projects in cities around the globe. There are currently six annual trips to locations including Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central America.
Denise left UofL in 2005 to undertake her own international experience. From 2005 until 2010 she served as Dean of Student Affairs at Zayed University, the premier United Arab Emirates National University dedicated to the higher education of Emirati traditional age women and men students based on the U.S. model of higher education.
In 2010 Denise was named the Associate Provost/Dean of Students at Widener University.in Chester Pennsylvania.
Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, 2005-2007
Michael Cuyjet
2016 Legacy Award Winner
Michael J. Cuyjet is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisville. Prior to his retirement in 2014, he served for 21 years in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Counseling, and College Student Personnel (ECPY) in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisville (UofL). In his most recent book, Multiculturalism on Campus, 2nd edition, published in 2016, he served as lead editor and also authored or co-authored several chapters.
Cuyjet has published more than 25 journal articles or book chapters and has received several awards including the American College Personnel Association’s “Annuit Coeptis” award twice, the Bob E. Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the Harold L. Adams Campus Life Award from the University of Louisville, and the College Personnel Association of Kentucky Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year Award.
Vice President of Student Affairs, 2007-2014
Tom Jackson, Jr.
2016 Legacy Award Winner
Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., is currently serving as president of Black Hills State University. Jackson’s current community engagements include serving in the Indiana Guard Reserve and volunteering as an instrument-rated pilot with Pilots-n-Paws and Animal Rescue Flights. Jackson is a veteran of the Texas State Guard, the Army National Guard and the United States Coast Guard Reserve. An inspirational and motivational speaker, he is often requested to present at regional, national and international events.
Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr. served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Adjunct Professor in Education from 2007 to 2014. .
Prior to the University of Louisville Dr. Jackson served as the Assistant Director of Residence Life at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX, an Area Coordinator at the University of Southern California, the Academic Development Specialist in Residence Life at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Director of the Student Activities Center at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Dean of Students at McMurry University (Texas), and the Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Dr. Jackson earned his Ed.D. in Educational Management from the University of La Verne in California, his M.S. in Counseling from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, his B.S. in Business-Human Resources from Southwest Minnesota State University, and his A.A. from Highline Community College in Seattle, Washington. A native of Seattle, Jackson aspired to the United States Coast Guard Reserve and has served in both the Army National Guard and Texas State Guard. He currently serves as an officer in the Indiana Guard Reserve.
Dr. Jackson is actively involved in the student development profession. He served as the 2009-10 President of ACPA College Student Educators International.
Current Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students, 2014-
Michael Mardis
Dr. Mardis has more than nineteen years of professional experience working in Student Affairs. He returned to the University of Louisville in July 2007, as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, having previously served here as a Program Coordinator, Adjunct Instructor and Judicial Affairs Officer before accepting a position at Radford University in July 2001 as Associate Dean of Students and then Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
He received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Education and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Organizational Development from UofL, and has served as an adjunct instructor for graduate programs at Radford University and the University of Louisville.
An active presenter at national conferences, webinars and regional conferences, Dr. Mardis speaks on a wide range of topics, including behavioral intervention teams, victim advocacy, student conduct, student engagement, campus safety, pandemic preparation, new professionals, professional balance, student organizations, the power of partnerships, leadership and international service learning.
A 1999 graduate of the Gehring Institute, Dr. Mardis has also previously served as the site coordinator and faculty member for the NASPA/SACSA New Professionals Institute, was the NASPA Kentucky Director for three years, and served on the NASPA Region III Board. He served two years as the ASCA National Coordinator for Communities of Practice on Threat Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Teams. He also served as the NASPA Excellence Award Chair for Violence Education and prevention, Crisis Management, and Campus Security.
Dean Mardis is passionate about providing a quality student experience for all students and has been a dedicated champion of enhancing student life at the University of Louisville.