Chapman announced that it has selected Genia Herndon, Ed.D., as its next Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, effective July 31. After a comprehensive national search, Herndon emerged as the ideal choice to lead the next chapter of Student Affairs’ success and continue Chapman’s momentum with student success at the forefront.
In this role, Herndon will serve as a member of the university’s senior leadership team and advance the university’s broader mission and strategic goals pertaining to the student experience. She will oversee a broad portfolio of units comprised of nearly 80 full-time professionals, including the Vice President and Dean of Students role that Chris Hutchison assumes July 2.
“Throughout the search process, it became clear that Genia’s depth and breadth of experience in student affairs and her ability to collaborate effectively across numerous stakeholder groups were impressive,” noted Amy Rogan-Mehta, EVP and Chief of Staff. “She brings both a deep connection to mission and a commitment to providing a high-touch student experience that is intentional, cross-functional, and measurable. From student engagement to residential life, Genia’s vision is ambitious, student-centered, and supported by strong execution.”
An experienced, cabinet-level leader, Herndon joins Chapman most recently from the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver), where she served for almost two decades in progressively senior roles with responsibilities touching the entire student lifecycle from recruitment and campus life to post-graduation success. Her career at CU Denver culminated in her position as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the campus’s senior-most student affairs leader.
While at CU Denver, Herndon spearheaded many strategic, student-centered programs and initiatives focused on student wellness, living-learning communities, student success, and academic pathway programs. Notably, she launched a career and experiential learning ecosystem that has produced 68,000 internship and job placements for students over time, strengthening both career outcomes and the university’s impact.
An engaged community and industry leader, Herndon also brings experience in public policy, alumni relations, and enrollment management. Prior to entering higher education, she served as a development officer in the nonprofit space, and she managed strategic partnerships for well-known brands including Aramark Sports and Entertainment. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master’s and doctoral degrees from CU Denver.
In accepting the role, Herndon shared that she is awed by Chapman’s upward trajectory, and she is drawn to the Chapman Family’s warmth and student-first approach to personalized education. “My campus visit reinforced what has stood out to me throughout this process: Chapman has a deeply personal and distinctive culture. The sense of connection, pride, and care reflected in the Chapman Family was evident.”
Herndon succeeds longtime Student Affairs administrator and Dean of Students Jerry Price, who retires from that role at Chapman on July 1.
Known for its highly personalized education and focus on the student experience, Chapman and its Student Affairs professionals support nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
