The Division of Student Affairs will welcome Heather Kropf, Ed.D (she, her, hers) as the new Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct at Willamette. Heather has worked professionally in Oregon over the past decade, most recently as the Associate Director of Residence Life at the University of Oregon.
In her current role, she oversees the day-to-day operations in residence life, initiates the curricular approach, supervises staff, facilitates hiring and training, serves on-call and hears high-level student conduct cases.
Heather held positions previously as an Assistant Director and Coordinator of Leadership and Academic Integration where she advised residential organizations and a regional regional leadership conference. She previously worked at Pacific University as a Resident Director where she managed first-year and apartment-style living areas and instructed a first-year seminar course.
Heather worked and attended Azusa Pacific University where she received her Master’s degree in College Student Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication studies. She recently graduated from the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Portland State University where her dissertation, Residence Life as Learning Organizations: An Inquiry Into Organizational Elements that Support Integration of the Residential Curriculum, show her professional and research passions. Her work has been featured on two podcasts: Student Affairs NOW and Beyond the Defense, as well as multiple presentations at professional annual conferences.
Heather served on the Board of Directors for Oregon Women in Higher Education (OWHE) for five years and was awarded the Beth Rietveld Service to OWHE. Additionally, Heather has won awards for service and advising in residence life. She is serving in her second year as a faculty member for the Institute on Curricular Approach.
Heather will be moving to Salem with her partner (Merv) and 15-month-old child (Camdyn). She is excited to be a part of the Willamette University community, work with dynamic staff at two campuses, and collaborate to support student learning and success. Heather will begin on May 25.
Many thanks to the committee for their work on this search:
Chair: Lisa Holliday, Associate Dean & DireAssociate Dean of Students & Director of Student Engagement & Leadership
Emilio Solano, Executive Director, Willamette Academy
Gordon Toyama, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Lily Hallock, Head Coach, Women’s Volleyball
Patience Judy, Counselor, Bishop Wellness Center
Samantha Bruce, Administrative Assistant, Student Affairs
Tama St. Onge, Class of 2023, Resident Advisor, First-Year Commons