Whitney Gregory named Elon University Dean of Students

Currently, the assistant dean of students at Elon, Whitney Gregory will bring nearly two decades of student affairs experience to her new Student Life leadership role, which will begin on June 1, 2025.

As dean of students, Gregory will provide strategic leadership for student success and welfare initiatives, including supervising the directors of the Student Care and Outreach and Student Conduct departments, the assistant dean of student success and retention, and the assistant dean of students. The Office of the Dean of Students also coordinates important functions related to the Student Life emergency response and the on-call system, behavioral intervention and threat assessment, graduate student life, and off-campus issues and relationships. As an advocate for student leadership at the university, Gregory will also advise the Student Government Association executive board and senate.

“I am honored and thrilled to step into this new role as Dean of Students at Elon University, a community I’ve been proud to call home,” said Gregory. “I’m excited to continue advancing the work I love – supporting student wellbeing and success – and am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve as a leader and advocate for student interests and empowerment.”

The Division of Student Life facilitates a transformational student experience that integrates in-and-out-of-class learning, promotes holistic development, and encourages student engagement. Gregory will serve as a member of the senior leadership team for the division, sharing responsibility for leading and implementing the Student Life Five-Year Plan and annual priorities.

“I am excited to welcome Whitney into this new role,” said Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life.

“She brings a powerful combination of institutional knowledge, track record of innovation and care, and unwavering dedication to student thriving. As dean of students, she will provide leadership for essential Student Life functions and departments and will continue to be a visible, accessible, and effective advocate for student success at Elon.”

– Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life

Gregory joined the Elon Division of Student Life in 2007 as assistant director for Judicial Affairs and, since that time, has served in a variety of progressively responsible positions, including director of Student Conduct, director of health promotion and student concerns outreach, and assistant dean of students.

Among her notable accomplishments, Gregory led the development of a new academic success course, co-chaired the Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, and conducted critical policy analyses that led to the creation of Elon’s medical and leave of absence policies and enhancements to academic standing policies. She has also been instrumental in enhancing services for graduate students and strengthening relationships between students and neighborhood residents as co-chair of the Neighborhood Coalition. Gregory received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 2022 and the University Staff Member of the Year Award in 2023 in recognition of her exceptional leadership and service at Elon.

Gregory earned her bachelor of arts in political science and master’s of education in counseling psychology from James Madison University and recently completed a doctorate in education, in educational leadership, from Western Carolina University, where her research focused on supporting student mattering and academic recovery.

Gregory’s appointment comes at the conclusion of a search chaired by Jason Husser, assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, and Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence.

According to Husser and Williams, “the dean of students role is very important for the student experience at Elon and we were pleased the search process identified the right candidate, with abundant experience who has supported student development across multiple, challenging contexts. We look forward to seeing Whitney begin this new role this summer and continue to strengthen partnerships across campus while supporting priority initiatives in the Division of Student Life.”

Gregory succeeds Jana Lynn Patterson, who has served as Elon’s dean of students for seven years, and will be transitioning on June 1 into her new role within the university as dean of student health and well-being and continuing as associate vice president for Student Life.