In July of 2019 Dr. Neufeldt left Old Dominion University to become President of California State University at San Marcos. Dr. Don Stansberry, Dean of Students & Associate Vice President for Engagement, stepped in as interim Vice President and was ultimately named Vice President of
Student Engagement & Enrollment Services the following year.
The onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020 coupled with changes in leadership at both the institutional and divisional levels prolonged the start of the next division strategic plan.
During the timeframe of
2020 to 2023, President Hemphill was onboarded, the new university 2023 – 2028 Strategic Plan, Forward Focused: Where Innovation Meets Possibility, was developed, and our division transitioned to a new Vice President.
In the fall of 2023, not long after starting at Old Dominion, Dr. Hephner LaBanc, Vice President for Student Engagement & Enrollment Services, identified and charged a committee to begin working on the next division strategic plan. The members of the committee were charged to think boldly about how we engage in the work of serving students and to think without limits. The committee was asked to be innovative and creative while considering our current budget; understanding that should recommendations be made to add something new, thought had to be given to what might be eliminated to make the appropriate resources available. Additionally, the committee was asked to ensure the new strategic plan for the division was aligned with the University strategic plan.
On April 16, 2024, it was announced that units from Auxiliary Business Services( ABS) would be joining the division effective May 1, 2024, and the division name would change to Student Enrollment, Engagement & Services( SEES). The ABS units joined with SEES included ABS Central office, ABS Marketing and Financial Literacy, Webb University Center, Mail Center, Monarch Card and Business Services, Monarch Dining Services, Chartway Arena, and University Village Bookstore.
In concert with the conclusion of the division’ s strategic planning efforts, an organizational design was necessary to align strategic priorities for organizational effectiveness. During the inaugural State of SEES program on June 4, 2024, Vice President Hephner LaBanc announced the SEES Communities of Practice, shared domains for relationships, resources, and effectiveness, bringing like thought leaders and resource capabilities together to allow the expanded division to operate more efficiently and synergize more effectively. The four Communities of Practice: enrollment management, student engagement, campus life services, and administration & strategy, support the proud student success efforts that, what has now evolved to Student and Campus Life as of August 2025, has prioritized since its inception: get, keep, and graduate Monarchs at ODU.
9