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DALLAS (SMU) – K.C. Mmeje, SMU’s vice president for Student Affairs, has been named a recipient of the 2024 Pillars of the Profession Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Foundation.

The award, which is conferred by NASPA members and supporters, acknowledges remarkable individuals within the student affairs and higher education community who demonstrate exceptional contributions to both the profession and the organization.

“Dr. Mmeje’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the student experience at SMU has made a substantial impact on our university's reputation as a residential college of excellence,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. “This well-deserved recognition from his peers underscores his dedication to student advocacy and success. The University and our students benefit from his wealth of expertise and years of experience.”

The NASPA Foundation Board of Directors will recognize Mmeje and his fellow honorees at the upcoming 2024 NASPA Annual Conference in Seattle.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by my peers,” Mmeje said. “I am also grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and students who helped shape my journey. I am especially pleased to be recognized by NASPA, which has been pivotal in my personal and professional growth for over 20 years.”

Mmeje has served as vice president for student affairs at SMU since 2017. He oversees vital aspects of the student experience at SMU, including the dean of students, residence life, student affinity groups, student activities, student conduct, campus ministries, the Hegi Family Career Development Center, Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, Hughes-Trigg Student Center, and the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports.

Before joining SMU, Mmeje was the assistant vice president and dean of students at Loyola University Chicago. He began his career at the University of Vermont as the assistant director of the Office of Judicial Affairs from 2003-04. He later served at the University of Southern California (USC), first as assistant director of student judicial affairs and community standards and then as student affairs advisor and special projects coordinator for the vice president of student affairs. From 2006-10, Mmeje was director of the USC Scholars Program, a funded outreach and retention initiative serving local underrepresented, first-generation, and low- to moderate-income transfer students.

Mmeje holds a B.A. in sociology and Black studies from the University of California-Santa Barbara. He obtained a Master of Education in higher education student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and completed his Ed.D. in educational leadership at USC. Additionally, he has a Certificate in Management and Leadership in Education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

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