Chris Riley, a 2000 ACU graduate, was hired this summer for the position of vice president of Student Life. Previously he served as the university’s associate general counsel and legal compliance coordinator for eight years.
Chris Riley, J.D. Vice President of Student Life
Riley said his first week in the role, beginning on August 4, was spent meeting with all other officers and deans outside of Student Life. His second week was spent meeting with all the directors within Student Life to see what the perceptions were from the outside and what Student Life needed from the inside.
“My goal is once we get past the beginning of school, to start thinking about our vision, hopefully to coincide with our move the Campus Center.”
Riley said the biggest change in the Office of Student Life this semester will be the moving of their physical location to the basement of the Campus Center and how it has an impact on all of Student Life moving toward one collective vision.
Riley received his Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003. He said a lot of his work in legal services at ACU was related to Student Life.
“There are just so many laws and regulations as it relates with things we’re doing with students,” he said. “Whether that be sexual assault or crime reporting, there are so many laws that are being pushed on higher education especially within Student Life.”
Dr. Allison Garrett, executive vice president of the university, said Riley has only been in this role for a couple of weeks, but is already making a wonderful and positive impact.
“He is widely respected across campus and has worked with folks from lots of different areas on campus over the the last eight years,” she said.
Dr. Jan Meyer, executive director of Christian Service and Leadership, served as the interim vice president of Student Life during the eighteen-month search period. Anthony Williams, chief business services officer, chaired a search committee that was comprised of people from different areas of the university.
“They reviewed more than 140 applications,” Garrett said. “I’m very grateful for Anthony for doing such a great job leading that committee.”
The committee disbanded in December without a hire being made, leaving the position vacant until this summer.
Riley said he was interested in this position because of the impact Student Life had on him as a student.
“I can appreciate not only the things that happen in the classroom but outside the classroom and making sure those things work well,” he said. “We provide not just the services but the opportunities that our students are looking for outside the classroom and making sure it is the kind of community that we want it to be.”
