Brian O Hemphill Editor

Brian O. Hemphill joined West Virginia State University in July 2012 as the University's 10th president. His emphasis since arriving on campus is threefold: to establish a commitment to excellence, to create a culture of accountability and to be student-centered in every process at State.

President Hemphill has a strong background in student advocacy, advancing diversity and equity and establishing a solid commitment to shared governance on campus. He has contributed to numerous journal articles and professional presentations in the areas of leadership, crisis management, ethics, and diversity. He has fulfilled various leadership roles within the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), which named him a Pillar of the Profession in 2009.

President Hemphill came to WVSU following an eight-year tenure as Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management and Associate Professor, at Northern Illinois University. Prior to joining NIU, he served as an associate vice chancellor and dean of students at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, associate dean of students at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, assistant dean of students at Cornell College, and coordinator of minority recruitment and retention at Iowa State University.

President Hemphill earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from St. Augustine's College.

Brandi Hephner LaBanc was appointed Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in July 2012 at Ole Miss, providing leadership and direction for all of the departments encompassed by the Division of Student Affairs. She also serves as a faculty member in the Higher Education program in the department of Leadership and Counselor Education.

Dr. Hephner LaBanc earned her bachelor's degree in Accounting at the University of Akron, her master's degree in Higher Education Administration and Student personnel at Kent State University, and her doctoral degree at Northern Illinois University in Adult and Higher Education.

Prior to coming to the University of Mississippi, Dr. Hephner LaBanc served Northern Illinois University as their Associate Vice President in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management as well as the Assistant Vice President for Planning and Operations. She has served students in multiple administrative roles at Arizona State University, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Baldwin-Wallace College, and University of Akron.

A respected scholar and consultant in the field of campus crisis management, her research also focuses on preparation of student affairs professionals and transition issues for graduate students. Among her honors and special recognitions, Dr. Hephner LaBanc was named Alumna of the Year at Kent State University and recognized for her outstanding service by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.