Patrick H. Rombalski, current vice president for student affairs at John Carroll University, has been named vice president of student affairs at Boston College. In his new role, Rombalski will manage nine departments at BC, including the Office for the Dean for Student Development, the Office of Residential Life, and the Office of AHANA Student Programs. Rombalski was chosen from a group of four finalists selected from over 80 applicants in a search that began last summer. He will assume his position on June 1. Rombalski, who has served as the director of residential life at the University of Scranton and as the associate director of residential life at Fairfield University in addition to his current post in Ohio, has accumulated 18 years of both personal and professional experience in Jesuit education. It was based on this experience that the search committee deemed Rombalski best suited for the job. "Patrick has experience at the executive level, extensive experience in student affairs, and has worked in Jesuit institutions before. His style, personality, vision, and enthusiasm for student affairs made him stand out," said Executive Vice President Patrick Keating. In addition to his extensive work in student affairs, Rombalski also boasts a personable disposition and an eagerness to get involved with students on campus. "He'll be a voice for students as well as a voice for the administration. He has to strike a balance and he has proven that he can do that well," Keating said. Rombalski reaffirmed his enthusiasm for student interaction. "The reasons I came into the field go back to my experiences as an RA, and I still have that original passion. That same energy for me is still there. I would not do this job if I was not interacting with students on a regular basis," Rombalski said. Rombalski's appointment has implications not only for the school, but also for his career. "It's a wonderful professional opportunity [at] a much larger school in a different part of the country," Rombalski said of his arrival at BC. "[BC is] one of the premier Jesuit universities in the United States, with students that represent both the national and international dimension." Rombalski, a native of Maine, looks forward to returning to his New England home with his wife, who acts as program manager for the Rostro de Cristo, an organization the pair runs in order to allow students to immerse themselves in volunteer work in Ecuador. A graduate of a Jesuit high school and college, Rombalski is no stranger to the world of Jesuit education. "My entire professional career has been in Jesuit higher education. With Jesuit education, there is a mission that I consider important. The primary reason is how we think about education. BC, as a larger school, is trying to be successful at this on a much larger plane," Rombalski said.Rombalski's Jesuit experience, Keating said, "gives him an understanding of the culture of Jesuit education, what the students are like, and what challenges might arise." While Rombalski is excited to hit the ground running, listening, not creating change, will be his first priority upon assuming his role. "My first job at BC is to get to know the community, the staff, and students" Rombalski said. "How much does student affairs interact with the rest of campus? Are student organizations important at BC? What is the student experience like at BC? I don't want to assume too much. I will be trying to figure out how the division can be successful as possible. It's important not to start off with immediate change." After Rombalski becomes acclimated to life at Boston College, Keating hopes that the new vice president will become involved with the various initiatives currently taking place on campus, including the strategic direction on student formation and the Master Plan, which will eventually result in the creation of new buildings that will drastically affect student life. Jenniffer Castillo, UGBC president and the only undergraduate student on a search committee composed mostly of faculty and administrators, assisted in the selection process and is excited about the appointment of Rombalski, crediting him as one of the best candidates from the start of the search process. "I'm excited to see what new things he will bring to BC. He was very personable and approachable, which is good for working with student leaders. He was passionate about student issues, especially social justice, which works with BC," Castillo said. Despite her praise, Castillo expressed one concern. Her doubts, however, revolved not around Rombalski's qualifications, but around his gender and ethnicity. "He completes an all-white and mostly male executive administration body at BC. That's a concern as a female AHANA student and the president of the undergraduate government. As a student leader, we all benefit from having AHANA faculty at BC. We continue to say we are trying to diversify at BC, and it just seems that when it comes to higher-level administration, it's mostly all white and all male," Castillo said. Rombalski is replacing Cheryl Presley, a black female administrator. Regardless of these concerns, however, Castillo has high expectations. "Dr. Rombalski is approachable, and he's the type of person who will be not only an administrator behind a desk but a presence on campus," Castillo said. University Spokesman Jack Dunn, another member of the search committee that elected Rombalski to the vice president position, offered a similar review of the newest addition to BC's administration. "Having met with Patrick, I can attest that he has infectious energy, great experience in student affairs, and a sincere desire to work with and promote students at BC. He's a great addition and I think students will really enjoy working with him," Dunn said.
Rombalski named VP student affairs
Published: Thursday, January 17, 2008
Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009
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