Meet Dr. David Wilmes

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Dr. David Wilmes joined the Slippery Rock University faculty team July 11th of 2016 and has been named associate provost for student success. As a part of job he oversees several departments including the following: student success functions in academic and student affairs, including academic services, residential programming and retention services, programs for special populations and student health and wellness. Specifically being the supervisor of the Office of Inclusive excellence, residence life, conduct, student health services, campus recreation, academic services, student support, women’s center, pride center, and the veteran’s center.

While receiving his bachelors in psychology, Wilmes had a supervisor that introduced him to careers that he could work with students to help them become successful, Dr. Wilmes said. He wasn’t aware that he could be doing what he loved to do for a living before then he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his degree Dr. Wilmes said. He then went on to pursue this interest ending up in several positions where he could guide students to helping them meet their goals.

Dr. Wilmes received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Missouri. Then later on attending Bowling Green State University to earn his master's degree in college student personnel. Earning his doctor of education policy and leadership degree at the University of Maryland. There his dissertation was titled “"An Examination of the Impact of Learning Communities on Job/Major Congruence." Throughout his career Dr. Wilmes has worked at several universities such as Goucher College, the University of New Hampshire, Bowling Green State University, the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business, and Marymount University.

“I have spent my entire career in the college world,” Dr. Wilmes said, “I like to say that I never left college.”

Dr. Wilmes spent six years at the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business. There he held positions as manager of career programming; director of leadership, study abroad and co-curricular programming; and director of student engagement where his main focus was on career development, leadership, student involvement and community-building and diversity.

Taking his natural talent of helping students to Marymount University, Dr. Wilmes served many purposes there as well. His roles at this university included executive director of career services, dean of career services and professional development, then becoming the dean of student success. There he was in charge of student conduct, a counseling center, the student health center, the center for career services and student employment.

Now, as the Slippery Rock University’s associate provost for student success, Dr. Wilmes bring a multitude of experience from the past several years. Bringing new ideas and a fresh set of eyes to bring to what the previous associate provost may have been missing. Interacting and getting involved with students activities play a huge part in his job because creating an environment where students aren’t intimidated to approach him makes it a lot easier to be able to help them collectively and individually.

“I came to this position because I knew that there was a lot of opportunity at Slippery Rock to help make things better, to improve what we do and to get students to meet their goals when they graduate,” Dr. Wilmes said.

I believe that as a slippery rock student it is important to get acquainted with Dr. Wilmes, whether it be to help make sure you're going in the right direction academically or just because he’s super nice. He is actively involved with the well-being of students from interacting on twitter to participating in student led organizations. I haven't know him for long and I can tell that his pure intention for being at slippery rock is to make sure students succeed.