Notre Dame College is pleased to announce D. Christopher Gill, Ph.D., who has two decades of leadership experience in student affairs at values-based higher education institutions, as its new dean of students.
In his first communication to Notre Dame students, Gill commits to keeping the student experience “a top priority in every decision that I make.” He also encourages students to be engaged, responsible members of the College community.
“Get involved and find the ways YOU can impact the community,” he writes. “Remember it is your college experience, make something of it! I can’t ‘do’ the college experience for you, neither can anyone at the College. So, take this time to become that best version of yourself, so you are ready to be the authentic leader this world desperately needs.”
Gill joined the College in July 2021 after 10 years as dean of student life at Culver-Stockton College, a private, residential, four-year college in Canton, Mo., which was founded in 1853 by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). While at Culver-Stockton, he served two years as co-chair of the National Leadership Symposium sponsored by the National Association for Campus Activities and the National Clearing House for Leadership Programs. Gill also established a leadership development program at Culver-Stockton College which was sponsored by the Wilfred and Ann Lee Konneker Endowment for Leadership.
He also served five years as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Campus Activities and is a current member of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). He has been a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 2017.
Before joining Culver-Stockton, Gill worked for 12 years as director of student development at Fontbonne University, a private, Roman Catholic university in Clayton, Mo.
Gill earned his doctorate in higher education and higher education administration from the University of Missouri in St. Louis; a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Evansville, Ind.
While an undergraduate, Gill was involved in the Student Government Association, Student Activities Board and the Catholic Campus Ministry Newman Center. He also was an orientation leader, a student member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
The complete text of Gill’s welcome message to Notre Dame students follows:
Hello Notre Dame Falcons!
I am thrilled to welcome each student, new and returning, to Notre Dame College for an intense, enjoyable and transformational academic year. I want to take this time to introduce myself to you. My name is Chris Gill and I will be your new Dean of Students. Even though this will be my first year at Notre Dame, I have over 10 years of experience as a Dean and over twenty years of experience in Student Affairs. Those years have taught me that the most important thing in higher education is you…the student. It is why I wanted to come to Notre Dame because they value the student experience. My commitment to you is to always make sure the student experience is a top priority in every decision that I make. But I also have a challenge for you as well, get involved and find the ways YOU can impact the community – in your residence hall, in your sport, in your classes, in your clubs, in fine arts, etc. Remember it is your college experience, make something of it! I can’t “do” the college experience for you, neither can anyone at the college. So, take this time to become that best version of yourself so you are ready to be the authentic leader this world desperately needs.
I am honored to be your Dean of Students and I am excited to get to know as many of you as possible. Please stop by my office in the Falcons Nest and say hello. Look for some “Meet the Dean” pizza parties soon after school starts.
Take care and Go Falcons!!
Christopher Gill, Ph.D.
Dean of Students
P.S. Follow me on Twitter at @Dean_DCGill
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs, and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.