Williams, Henrie assume new administrative roles

Two key members of the Emporia State administration have assumed new duties.

Jim Williams, the former Vice President of Student Affairs, and Elaine Henrie, the former Interim Registrar, both have changed titles and responsibilities.

Elaine Henrie began work as Interim Registrar last April and accepted the permanent Registrar position in July.

“I was a part of the Registration Office for 12 years before accepting a position in the Financial Aid Office,” Henrie said in an e-mail interview.

The switch in departments has given Henrie a chance to spend more time with faculty members. This connection with the faculty is what has made her acceptance of both positions possible.

“In registration, there is more interaction with faculty,” Henrie said. “It has been nice to reestablish those relationships… they are the folks who make this work very well.”

Despite the additional responsibilities, Henrie continues to act as Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Henrie feels that the responsibilities of both positions work well together because they both have such an impact on students and faculty.

“It helps us all keep the broader picture in mind,” Henrie said.

Jim Williams jokes that, in his time at ESU, he has changed job titles more frequently than most faculty members ever will. Though he finds humor in his latest change of title, he said that he remains sincere and passionate about continuing his work with student affairs.

Williams, the former Vice President of Student Affairs, is now the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Student Life. The purpose of the new title is to help further the connection between the university and the community and to provide new opportunities for each to gain from the other.

The change in title from “student affairs” to “student life” reflects a broader approach to the needs of students. Rather than focus only on affairs on campus, Williams now focuses on connecting ESU and the community, and specifically on finding the best way to connect students and community members with the opportunities that Emporia has to offer.

“The first challenge is solidifying our approach,” Williams said. “We want to build resources for students and the campus as a whole.”

These opportunities include increased outreach with community organizations and partnerships with community colleges to expand ESU’s reach. This growth is an ongoing endeavor both for him and for the university.

“That’s the part that’s exciting,” Williams said. “There are many different areas we’ve worked on in the past. We’re starting to make [community connection] a priority.”