Ortiz named to student affairs post

Ortiz

Samantha Ortiz, Ph.D., has been chosen interim associate vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. Ortiz has been with the university since August 2008 as assistant vice chancellor for university life and dean of students.

"It has been a pleasure working at CU Denver because the students are fantastic, and faculty and staff are dedicated to student learning," she said. "I am looking forward to working in my new role to continue to enhance the student experience across campus."

The University of Colorado Denver has seen great advancement in the areas of student affairs the past five years. The institution has:

• Achieved record enrollments for each of the past four years.
• Implemented a $3.5 million Title V Cooperative Grant with Community College of Denver (CCD), the Denver Transfer Initiative, and significantly increased transfer and graduation rates of students from CCD.
• More than doubled the number of high school students participating in dual enrollment courses; now serving nearly 7,000 students across the state.
• Established student fee funding for a new Veteran Student Service Manager and development of services for veteran students. (CU Denver was designated as a "Veteran Friendly School" by GI Jobs Magazine: Top 15 percent of Schools Nationwide.)
• Established the university's first Disability Resource Services office supporting students with accommodations and assistive technology on both campuses.

In her new role, Ortiz will oversee enrollment management, student success, university life and the university registrar.

Ortiz's background in higher education and student affairs includes direct experience in academic advising, residence life, judicial affairs, career services, instruction, orientation, and as dean of students with the University of Northern Colorado.

She has been an active member in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, including serving as the Colorado Membership Coordinator as well as the co-chair for the 2009 NASPA IV-West Regional Conference.

Ortiz attained her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Colorado State University and her master's in secondary/post-secondary school counseling and her Ph.D. in higher education and student affairs leadership from the University of Northern Colorado.