Kratzer named vice president for student affairs at UF

May 18, 2012

GAINESVILE, Fla. — After a nationwide search, David E. Kratzer has been selected as vice president for student affairs at the University of Florida, Provost Joe Glover announced Friday.

Currently serving as interim vice president for student affairs, Kratzer has been part of the UF Division of Student Affairs since 1986. He recently led campus initiatives such as the expansion and renovation project of the J. Wayne Reitz Union, an exit survey for all graduating students to collect longitudinal data on job placement and career choice, and the implementation of several campus safety-related campaigns including “U Matter We Care” and the Medical Amnesty Policy.

“Dave is a dynamic leader with a clear vision of how the Division of Student Affairs can best meet the needs of UF’s 50,000 students,” Glover said. “Kratzer is measured and deliberate in his handling of academic and service matters. His vast experience and proven results make him the ideal choice as vice president.”

He had been UF’s associate vice president for student affairs for seven years and director of UF’s J. Wayne Reitz Union for 18 years.

Before coming to UF, Kratzer was director of student unions at Murray State University in Kentucky and the University of Evansville in Indiana, and had worked in student activities at Western Illinois University. He holds a master’s degree in recreation administration from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s in recreation and park administration from Western Illinois University.

In addition to his student affairs experience, Kratzer has had significant military leadership experience. As a major general in the U.S. Army, he was responsible for theater-level logistics as the commander of the 377th Theater Support Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom-One in 2002 and 2003. As a brigadier general, he commanded all Civil Military Operations in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2002. Kratzer is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a concentration in strategic studies.

The UF Division of Student Affairs consists of 13 departments on campus with more than 500 full-time employees and 1,900 part time employees. UF Student Affairs departments include the Career Resource Center, the Center for Leadership and Service, the Counseling and Wellness Center, the Dean of Students Office, the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program, GatorWell Health Promotion Services, Housing and Residence Education, Off Campus Life, Student Legal Services, Recreational Sports, Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, the J. Wayne Reitz Union, and Student Activities and Involvement.

Areas within those departments include the Disability Resource Center, New Students and Family Programs, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Sorority and Fraternity Affairs, and Student Government. For more information about the Division of Student Affairs, see http://www.ufsa.ufl.edu/.

Kratzer succeeds Patricia Telles-Irvin, who left UF early last year to become vice president for student affairs at Northwestern University.