Fulton, MO – Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods University(WWU), today announced the promotion of Steve Wilson to the new position of Vice-President of Student Engagement and Intercollegiate Athletics. The appointment of Wilson, who joined WWU as Director of Athletics in December 2022, is effective immediately.
In addition to continuing to direct athletics, Wilson will now add new responsibilities in directing the University’s Student Engagement efforts, including student development and campus student retention efforts. He will also oversee the areas of Residential Life, Student Involvement, Counseling and Health Services, University Chaplain, Center for Ethics and Global Studies, Office of Faith and Service, LEAD Program, Diversity and Inclusion, and Campus Safety.
“Since arriving at The Woods in 2022, Steve Wilson has been an asset to the University through his outstanding leadership of our athletic department during a time of extraordinary growth and change,” said President Moreland. “We are pleased to have him take on additional, critical responsibilities in directing our Student Engagement efforts, where his extensive higher education experience in student success and retention initiatives, student engagement and leadership development will be an asset in ensuring the best possible college experience for our William Woods students.”
As Director of Athletics, Wilson has skillfully spearheaded a department undergoing significant transition, adding 12 new varsity intercollegiate athletic programs including the historic addition of men’s tackle football; guiding the University’s move to a new athletic conference (The Heart of America) for the first time in 30 years, and facilitating major renovations to the Helen Stephens Sports Complex and the new multi-sport North Campus Athletics Complex that will house football, soccer and lacrosse.
“I am incredibly thankful for President Moreland and University Provost Dr. Ted Blashak, both in the leadership they’ve provided, and the trust they’ve extended in my year and a half at The Woods,” Wilson said. “Every day, we come to this campus and get to do something special, something big – and we’re nowhere close to slowing down. In many ways, we’re just getting started, but we get to do it with incredibly rich history and tradition. Coupled with educational opportunities that serve students for a lifetime, experiences outside the classroom are foundational in our students’ growth, and I am excited to continue to enhance those everyday teachable moments.”
Before coming to WWU, Wilson served in a variety of student engagement roles in addition to working in athletics at three universities, including coordinating student housing and dining efforts and facility usage for the first-ever class of students at Park University-Gilbert (Arizona); creating, organizing and providing oversight for the Park University Student Athlete Advisory Board; co-chairing the COVID-19 Task Force Working Group at Kansas Wesleyan University and serving on the Kansas Wesleyan President’s Council. A proud Greek alum, Wilson was also actively involved in the Alpha Upsilon chapter of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at Kansas St. University, where he graduated in 2004.
