Dr. Rafael Rodriguez became NYU's inaugural Associate Vice President and Dean of Students on October 25, 2021.
Dean Rodriguez’s breadth and depth of professional experience and volunteer involvement on and off campus have earned him a reputation of being a connected, caring, and strategic leader. Throughout his career, Rafael has developed an expertise and proven track record in crisis response; organizational development and change management; recruitment, training, and retention of diverse staff; and implementing data-informed best practices that bolster the student experience. His work also focuses on providing holistic support to first-generation and marginalized students, fostering student leadership development, mentoring and developing professional staff, and developing quality assessment instruments.
As the Dean of Students, he is the principal student advocate and provides guidance and direction to all students at NYU. He provides leadership and facilitates interdepartmental interaction, and serves as a central student crisis intervention resource by supporting and coordinating student referrals both within and outside of the division. Dean Rodriguez works closely with all NYU schools and countless offices, including the Department of Campus Safety, Student Success, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and Counseling and Wellness Services. Dean Rodriguez works collaboratively to support the well-being of our students and upholds the University Student Conduct Policy. The Dean of Students also directly supervises Residential Life and Housing Services and works with various offices to help facilitate belonging and connection at NYU. The Dean also works closely with Student Government to further incorporate and address the emerging needs of NYU students.
