Dr. Sherry Dellinger named dean of students at Tusculum

Dr. Sherry Dellinger

Dr. Sherry Dellinger, a 30-year higher education professional who has blended teaching with administrative leadership, has been named dean of students at Tusculum University.

In this role, she has direct oversight of residential life, housing, multicultural affairs, recreational and student activities, behavioral education, counseling and disability services. She supervises the Office of Student Affairs’ professional staff and assembles and maintains Tusculum’s Title IX team.

Dr. Dellinger joined the Tusculum staff Wednesday, Jan. 2, most recently serving as assistant provost, assistant vice president of student affairs and Title IX coordinator and investigator at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.

“We’re delighted to bring aboard another high-caliber leader with an exceptional track record to partner with our administrative team and other members of the Tusculum family to provide the best possible experience for our students,” said Dr. Madison Sowell, Tusculum’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Tusculum will benefit from the best practices she will establish and the collaborative spirit she will use to help our university continue to demonstrate its leadership in higher education.”

Serving at the University of Dallas since 2016, Dr. Dellinger provided strategic planning, predictive modeling and leadership of all Student Affairs departments. Among her many duties were supervising and maximizing services for students in residence life, counseling, health and student activities. She also performed resilience leadership development and worked to prevent Title IX violations and to increase student success and retention.

Previously, Dr. Dellinger was dean of students at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., from 2011-2015 and at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio, from 2007-2011. She also worked in a variety of roles at Southwestern College in Phoenix, Indiana University Southeast in New Albany and Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dr. Dellinger has taught at many of these higher education institutions as well as others. Among her courses have been academic recovery for freshmen, leadership training, career development, English grammar and usage, college reading, business communications and presentation skills for managers.

“Tusculum is an excellent university with a long tradition of service, and I am thrilled to pursue this next stage of professional growth in a forward-thinking organization,” Dr. Dellinger said. “The university has created many pillars of success, and I am ready to build on our achievements to reinforce how Tusculum is a first-choice institution for students, faculty and staff. With a strong leadership team throughout the university, we will ensure students are poised to reach their full potential.”

Dr. Dellinger earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, with a concentration in English and speech, and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, both from Indiana University. She received her doctorate in educational leadership from Spalding.