Student Affairs Senior Leadership Team

picture of Jasmine Buxton

Dr. Jasmine Buxton  (she/her)

Vice President for Student Affairs 

Known for being an unwavering advocate for all students, “Dr. Jazz,” as she welcomes being called, has cultivated engaging learning environments that prepare students for life beyond the university. 

Dr. Jazz earned a doctorate of Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama, and a master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University. She graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in Black World Studies with a concentration in African American Literature and History.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Jazz served as the associate vice chancellor for student success and dean of students at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.  She also served as senior associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Delaware State University; she assumed the position of senior associate vice president after having been promoted from associate vice president for student affairs. Before joining Delaware State University, Dr. Jazz was assistant dean of students at Bowling Green State University. Prior to her work at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Jazz worked at Alabama A&M University where she assumed the dual role of director of student activities and leadership development, as well as director of new student orientation. Her leadership expertise quickly became apparent to the Alabama A&M administration as she was asked to step-in and take on the position of interim associate vice president of student affairs; she successfully completed the short-term assignment and returned to her role as director. Her extensive career also includes leadership roles at The University of Cincinnati, The Ohio State University, Indiana State University, and Central State University. 

Sara Hinkle

Dr. Sara Hinkle (she/her)

Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement

Dr. Sara Hinkle's background includes over 25 years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs and higher education, including work as an administrator, instructor, and researcher.  A true student affairs generalist, she has directed or supervised almost every functional area within the student affairs field.  She has worked at West Chester University since 2013, and currently serves as the assistant vice president for Student Engagement within the Division of Student Affairs.  Her portfolio includes oversight of Sykes Union & Student Activities, Student Leadership & Involvement, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Spirit and Traditions and serving as the liaison to West Chester’s higher education policy and student affairs program.  She earned a B.A. in psychology from Gettysburg College, an M.S. in counseling from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Indiana University Bloomington.  Dr. Hinkle has been an active leader in the field-at-large, having served and held several leadership roles within ACPA- College Student Educators International and The Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.  Additionally, she has contributed over 50 national presentations and publications to the student affairs knowledge base on such topics as student transitions, student success/engagement, leadership, and feminist issues.  Most notably, she served as a research associate on Student success in college: Creating conditions that matter (Kuh, Schuh, Whitt, & Associates, 2005, 2010).

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 Christy Lanshe (she/her)

 Director of Finance

Christy serves as the lead financial oversight advisor for the division regarding budgeting, forecasting, and expenditure control. She is the cooperative liaison to the university budget office concerning allocations, development and projections. She functions as the primary financial executor, monitoring a significant number of auxiliary, self-support, and education and general fund centers. She also provides learning criteria to managers and directors committed to practicing good financial stewardship and compliancy to current policies and procedures.

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Sabrina Rightmer  (she/her)

Director of Communications & Marketing for Student Affairs

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Denine Rocco  (she/her)

Dean of Students/ Assistant Vice President for Student Life (Interim)

Denine Rocco has oversight of  Student Conduct, Residence Life, Housing, and Off Campus and Commuter Services. 

B.K. Taylor   

Dr. B.K. Taylor (he/they)

Assistant Vice President for Health and Wellness

B.K. has oversight of Campus Recreation, the CARE Team, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Assistance, Student Health Services, and Wellness Promotion.

Amanda Thomas

Amanda Thomas, M.Ed.  (she/her)

Executive Director of Assessment and Planning

Amanda Thomas coordinates assessment, strategic planning, and co-curricular activities for the Division of Student Affairs and co-chairs the Student Affairs Assessment Council. Her experience encompasses institutional research, student affairs assessment, academic assessment, grant evaluation and research support services. In addition to holding a Continuing Research Education Certificate, Amanda has a Master’s Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel and a Bachelor’s in Management, both from Kent State University. She is a member of directorate board for the ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice, a former member of the ACPA Commission on Assessment and Evaluation, and co-chair of the ACPA 2020 Student Affairs Assessment Institute.