Early Bird

Updates on Roadways' director of Student Support and Retention position presentations

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend presentations by Andrew Gurka and Dominique Vargas.

By Lindsey Coulter

March 14, 2019

Andrew Gurka and Dominique Vargas — candidates to become the next director of Student Support and Retention in Roadways — will visit Metropolitan State University of Denver today and Thursday to give presentations and to participate in an open forum with faculty, staff and students. The position, and successful candidate, will play a critical role in ensuring that students connect with the resources they need to persist to graduation.

The Student Support and Retention area of Roadways includes Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, Roadways Advising (undeclared/exploratory, re-admit, college completion) and Scholarship Support.  The incoming director will play a pivotal role in student success by providing visionary and innovative leadership for the development of these services and their integration into the student life cycle at MSU Denver.

Please note both presentations will take place in Tivoli 444.

Monday, March 18

Dominique Vargas

2:00-3:00 p.m.         

Vargas is director of the McNair Scholars Program at Sul Ross State University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and a Master of Education in counseling from Sul Ross State University as well as a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Southern California. She has previously served as a communication lecturer, retention specialist and advisor, and recruiting coordinator for Sul Ross State University. Vargas also sits on the university’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the Academic Committee and Dean’s Council.         

Thursday, March 21

Andrew Gurka (Please note: Gurka's session will now take place in JSSB 350A)

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.                

Gurka has served as director of the Living-Learning and Roadmap Programs at the University of Richmond since 2009. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and a Master of Education in higher-education administration at Loyola University Chicago. Gurka is also a member of the University of Richmond Downtown Strategic Plan Council and the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement Steering Committee. Prior to his current position, he served as area coordinator for the Richmond College Dean’s Office.

Please note: Vargas and Gurka were originally scheduled to visit campus March 14 and March 15, respectively. Both candidate visits were rescheduled following Wednesday's winter storm. Candidates Nahum Kisner and Joseph Thomas presented to the MSU Denver community on March 15. The original article has been amended to reflect these scheduling changes.