***This event has passed.

To view the recording of this event, please click here.

This event is part of the BRIGHT Leaders Getting To Know You series.

Please join us as we get to know Dr. Gene Fitch Jr., Vice President of Student Affairs at University of Texas at Dallas. 

Dr. Fitch has over 30 years of experience in higher education. He joined UTD in 2010 as the dean of students. Was promoted to Associate Vice-President/Dean of Students in 2014 and in 2015 was appointed Vice-President for Student Affairs by then president, Dr. David Daniel.

Dr. Fitch began his career at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach as the assistant director for student activities. After a short stint there, he moved to the University of Arkansas where he accepted a similar position. In what would turn out to have a significant impact on his career path, in his last year at Arkansas, he was working in two full-time positions as both the assistant director for student activities and the assistant dean for judicial affairs (student conduct). After a year of this arrangement, and seven years at Arkansas, his higher education journey continued when he accepted the position of assistant dean for judicial affairs and mediation services at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Dr. Fitch was at MTSU for thirteen years. While there, he was fortunate to hold multiple positions that provided him the opportunity for “increasingly more responsibility.” He left MTSU as the Associate Vice-President and Dean of Students after accepting a position at UTD.

As mentioned, Dr. Fitch joined UT Dallas in 2010. He is responsible for a division of approximately 300 full-time staff, representing 24 departments and a division budget of approximately $45 million.  Units include Athletics, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Student Health Center, Student Counseling Center, University Housing, University Recreation, Fraternity and Sorority Life, University Career Center, Student Organizations and Community Standards and Conduct, to name a few.

Dr. Fitch is a past recipient of the Association for Student Conduct Administration’s Dissertation of the Year Award. He has served as the Foundation Chair for TACUSPA. He has served as president of UTD’s Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He is a member of the Richardson Rotary Club where he has served as program chair, secretary and president. He is a graduate of Leadership Richardson, Class XXVII and recently completed an eight-year term as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Richardson serving the last four years as the Chair of the Commission.