WSU Vancouver welcomed Domanic Thomas to campus in the beginning of August 2019, to fill his new role of vice chancellor of student affairs and enrollment. The VanCougar sat down with Thomas to learn more about his past experiences and goals for his campus position.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: “My original major was chemistry and I was going to be a dentist. I joined the pre-dental society club on campus and I met a dentist, did an internship and hated it … However, I was so far into my chemistry credit and I had a minor in education, so I thought my back-up option would be to teach. I got a C in one of my chemistry classes so I met with my advisor and they said I was done with school if I wanted to go [with] general science. I graduated that day and started a part-time job teaching right after that.”
Q: Tell me about your position here on campus.
A: “As the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs & Enrollment I work in areas such as the admissions and enrollment staff reporting… Some work revolves around the career center, campus recreation, counseling services, etc. I also revolve around the support systems for students outside of the classroom. So, being held responsible in the way we educate students and getting them to network and building their careers and giving those leadership and connection opportunities that helped me with my career. Providing those opportunities for students is why I am here.”
Q: How do you manage all the responsibilities surrounding your position?
A: “Having done this work for awhile now, how I manage best is to trust in the people around you and support those around you. Really take in that team approach… I trust these people to be professionals and ask when they need help. I hope to build that connection for people to come talk to me. I am a person with no ego. I will get in a pair of jeans and process applications, bring books to the bookstore and whatever is needed, I will do. I am about advocacy of our [WSU Vancouver’s] work and putting the students first.”
Q: What are some of the challenges that come with your position?
A: “I think there are challenges in terms of enrollment, in the broader scope of higher education. In a big picture where the economy is going well, we can look at what is to come in the future. I think that is something I am trying to look around the corner to. How do we make this place (enrollment-wise) sustainable and grow effectively? Not just the number of students who attend, but looking at the number of students who are successful and committed to what we do here at WSU Vancouver and the education opportunities that we offer. I think that growth and doing it the right way is a challenge.”
Q: How does being a first-generation college student affect how you see your job on campus?
A: “For me being a first-generation college student, it was a gift and a curse. What I thought was such a disadvantage in many situations, turned out to be a gift. I learned how to be assertive, I understood systems to a greater extent compared to my peers who would just call and ask their parents a question… I had to read, make appointments and speak to folks. Then I was able to help navigate these systems for my peers because I learned it from meeting the people in charge.”
Q: What do you hope to bring to WSU Vancouver?
A: “[I hope] to help students, staff and the community. I hope to build a sense of place. I want this place to be a touchstone [standard or criterion] for students that pass through. For faculty, I want it to be a place for them to come knowing that they do great work and that they feel good about what they do. I want the students to feel good about being here and know that there is support… This is a place they can rely on and say ‘hey, I contributed and I was supported.’ I want to ensure that this is a place that is meaningful to the people who work here, for the students that go here and for the students that were here [in the past].”
Q: Do you have any general goals for the upcoming academic year?
A: “My main goal in a year from now is to be considered a valuable part of the community. I think from there, there are going to be some goals met around growth and student successes. But really it is, how can I be a valuable member of the community? The community piece is important because that means I have done work alongside students and staff. That’s what is important to me.”
Emily is a senior studying integrated strategic communication at WSU Vancouver.