I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Dr. Charlie Potts as Director of the Rensselaer Student Union for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Potts will report to the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, and will begin employment with the Institute on September 4, 2018.
Dr. Charlie Potts is an experienced leader in student life administration with more than 25 years of professional experience at one of the most prestigious and largest public universities in the U.S, Indiana State University, where he oversaw a comprehensive range of student life services including its student union. Dr. Potts currently consults with a regional network of 100 nonprofit social services organizations in seven counties in the State of Indiana, which includes several colleges and universities: Indiana State University, Saint Mary of the Woods College, Ivy Tech Community College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and DePauw University. In addition, Dr. Potts serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Master of Leadership Program at Saint Mary of the Woods College.
Prior to his consulting work in community service and program development, Dr. Potts served as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Auxiliary Services. As Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Potts was responsible for the Student Union, Student Activities, African American Cultural Center, Student Publications, Student Recreation Center, Student Health Center, Campus Convocation Center, and the Performing Arts facility. He supervised over 30 professional staff, 70 support staff, eight graduate assistants, and over 80 student workers. Prior to joining Indiana State University, Dr. Potts served as the Associate Director of the Student Union at Southern Methodist University.
The most notable accomplishments during Dr. Potts' career include, but are not limited to, the development and opening of a new 100,000-square-foot Student Union and retail outlets; the facilitation of a student referendum for the construction, and operation, of a new $22 million campus recreation center; and the creation of a student leadership conference that engaged alumni to return to campus to meet with students, resulting in the development of several experiential learning groups, internships, and job opportunities. Dr. Potts was also appointed as an Affiliate Faculty for the College of Education at Indiana State University.
Dr. Potts earned a Ph.D. at Indiana State University in Educational Administration. He received a master's degree in Educational Administration from Marquette University, and a bachelor's degree in French and History/International Studies from Dartmouth College.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Charlie Potts to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and to the Division of Student Life.
