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Two new administrators have been appointed in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Memphis. Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell is the new assistant vice president for Student Development, and Dr. Stephen H. Petersen is the associate VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. Both have begun work at the University.

Dr. Stephen H. Petersen

He comes to the U of M from St. Louis, where he was most recently vice president for Student Affairs at St. Louis Community College-Meramec. Prior to that, he had been with Washington University in St. Louis as assistant vice chancellor for Alumni and Development Programs, and earlier at St. Louis University as interim vice president for Development and University Relations and also as associate vice president for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving.

He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University.

Dr. Stephanie Blaisdell

During her17-year career in higher education at the U of M, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Arizona State University, Blaisdell has focused on retention of students, including women in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Arizona State University.

Her husband, John Blaisdell, is associate dean of students at Rhodes College in Memphis.