UF names new vice president of student affairs

The University of Findlay announced Wednesday that Brandi Laurita will serve as the next vice president of student affairs, beginning Jan. 1, 2022, following the retirement of Dave Emsweller on Dec. 31. Laurita has served as UF's director of athletics and senior woman administrator since June 2015. During her tenure in this role, she has led the department of athletics to success in recruiting and retaining students and to a strong financial position, a press release states. "Her work with colleagues within athletics and throughout campus has been exemplary," Dr. Katherine Fell, president of UF, said in the release. "Brandi focuses on student success in all her decisions and in the relationships she has built with students, faculty and staff. We are confident she will bring this same focus as she leads our Student Affairs Division." Laurita will oversee all aspects of the student experience at the university, including student success, student life, student engagement and campus safety. "I am humbled and honored to serve the university in an expanded role as the vice president of student affairs. The division of student affairs is comprised of a dynamic staff with which I am excited to work more closely as we continue positively impacting the lives of the students at the University of Findlay," Laurita said in the press release. Laurita served as UF's assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator from 2008-15. She has served as student-athlete advisory committee adviser and UF's Title IX coordinator. She has also been responsible for oversight of athletic scholarships, chaired committees to select coaches for teams representing four sports, and has been event manager for multiple teams. Elsewhere, she has been appointed to a number of NCAA and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) committees, most notably the GLIAC Executive Committee and Management Council. She has provided oversight for numerous national, regional and conference tournaments; and since 2011 has participated in the NCAA/ADA Division II Director of Athletics Mentoring Program.