Student Affairs Leadership Update

An email message sent to the Assumption community on November 14, 2025:

Dear Assumption Community,

I am pleased to announce that Lauren Haynie has been named Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, effective January 5, 2026, following an extensive search. Lauren currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Health, Wellness and Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs at Brandeis University—where she also previously served as Director of Athletics.

Lauren brings an impressive depth of student affairs experience from the broad range of institutions at which she has served, including The Catholic University of America, MIT, Wellesley College, and Brandeis. Fittingly, one of her first roles was here at Assumption, where she was Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine from 2004-2006. You can read more about Lauren’s professional background in a detailed announcement here.

The VPSA is an incredibly important cross-campus collaborator with students, faculty, and staff. I am deeply grateful to our search committee members for their willingness to represent our community.

Beyond the committee, we had a wide range of participation from student leaders, Cabinet, and the Office of Student Affairs. Throughout that process, Lauren stood out as the resoundingly clear choice.

Her approach to student wellbeing is deeply connected to our Catholic educational mission and how it encompasses the totality of the campus experience. Lauren will continue to build a culture that cares for our students as whole persons and empowers them to have a sense of ownership over their time at Assumption.

I know she is eager to get to partner with us in realizing the University’s bold strategic plan goals to transform thestudent experience and help our Greyhounds thrive.

Please join me in sharing our deepest gratitude with Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Debbie Heida, who has been a tremendous colleague and leader, beginning a transformation in how we approach student affairs. Debbie will conclude her tenure at the end of this semester and return to her home state of Georgia just in time to escape our New England winter.

Sincerely,

Greg Weiner, Ph.D.
President
Assumption University