News

Berquam selects associates

Dean of Students Lori Berquam appointed three higher education professionals last week to vacant positions in the University of Wisconsin Offices of the Dean of Students.

Kevin Helmkamp, the current interim associate dean of students and assistant director of Housing, and Argyle Wade, director of Housing and Residence Life at St. Louis University, were selected from a pool of five professionals and will be joining the Bascom Hall team as associate deans of students.

"Kevin's experience and history of success working with student groups and staff will continue to be a major [addition] to our division," Berquam said in a statement. "Likewise, I'm equally excited to have Argyle join us, bringing complementary skills in student development and program assessment."

Helmkamp has worked as an interim associate dean since June 2006 while managing several academic programs and services in UW Housing. Wade leads a housing office serving 3,400 student residents and employing approximately 50 professionals and 200 students.

The Offices of the Dean of Students is responsible for developing academic, professional, personal and social units of student life, as well as investigating alleged violations of academic and nonacademic misconduct. The newly appointed associate deans will assist Berquam with the McBurney Disability Resource Center, MultiCultural Student Center, International Student Services, student government and other organizations.

They will also be responsible for representing the dean in her absence. A more specific division of duties will be defined later this fall, Berquam said.

Helmkamp is expected to finish his Housing duties and begin his new position Aug. 20. Wade is expected to start by Sept. 17. Both associate deans will have $94,000 salaries.

Berquam has also appointed Alicia Johnson, director of diversity and geographic outreach at the Wisconsin Alumni Association, to a position as special assistant to the dean.

"Alicia's commitment to and passion for working with students is evident, and I'm looking forward to working with her," Berquam said in the statement.

Johnson will assist and represent Berquam in several special projects. She is a spring 2000 UW graduate and has acquired experience in public relations during her four years working at the WAA.

"I'm really excited about being a lot more connected to what's happening on campus and getting more involved in student life," Johnson said. "I'm hoping to bring a lot of spirit and excitement to the job."

She is expected to begin her new position Aug. 8 and will have a $50,000 salary.

Neither Helmkamp nor Wade were available as of press time.

Correction: Due to a reporting error, did not say Alicia Jackson was appointed director of diversity and geographic outreach at the Wisconsin Alumni Association. We regret the error.