e-mail this page
Printer Friendly Version

December 13, 2004

Varlotta chosen as Sacramento State’s new
vice president for student affairs

Lori Varlotta

Following a nationwide search, Lori Varlotta has been named vice president of student affairs at California State University, Sacramento.

Varlotta is currently Sacramento State’s associate vice president for student affairs, a position she has held for just over a year since coming from the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater, where she was dean of student life. She replaces Shirley Uplinger, who is retiring after serving as vice president for student affairs since 1996. Uplinger has been with the University since 1973.

A national search for Varlotta’s replacement will begin immediately.

As vice president, Varlotta will be responsible for a variety of programs related to student life, including on-campus housing, advising, student government, admissions, career services, and student activities such as intramural sports and special events. She was previously the direct supervisor of a number of offices in Student Affairs, including: Student Activities, Residence Life, Services to Students with Disabilities, Career Center, Testing, Psychological Services, the Women's Center, the Multicultural Center and Associated Students.

“Lori has done really remarkable work since she came here, and I’m counting on her for more of the same,” said Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez. “She’ll be in a key leadership position as we enhance and expand our student programs through our Destination 2010 initiative. Our plans to be a destination campus rely very strongly on providing a great student experience.”

Varlotta will also be closely involved with the University’s ongoing accreditation process with the Western Association of School and Colleges. She says one of her goals in that work is making a clear link between student life and student learning

Varlotta has spent much of her career teaching and writing in the areas of philosophy of education, feminist theories of community and power, democratic-progressive service-learning, and non-hierarchal leadership. Her degrees are in philosophy and education; she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in cultural foundations of education from Syracuse University, and an interdisciplinary doctorate in philosophy, education, and women's studies from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

“I feel fortunate, so very fortunate to be part of student affairs and now to be named to this position,” Varlotta said. “There’s really a great sense of teamwork in this division. These are great people to work with.”

Media assistance is available by contacting Public Affairs at (916) 278-6156.

####