Golden Begins Associate Dean for Student Wellbeing Role July 1
June 30, 2023 - Dorene DiNaro
The Dean of Students Office is adding two new Associate Dean of Students positions to provide more support to UNM students, staff, and faculty. These changes will bring the University of New Mexico into alignment with the best practices and standards of other universities across the country.
The Associate Dean (AD) of Student Wellbeing position has been filled by Greg Golden. Golden’s previous role as Assistant Dean of Students will be disbanded and restructured into the two Associate Dean positions. The other position, Associate Dean for Student Rights and Responsibilities, is currently posted on UNM Jobs with a best consideration date of July 5.
Golden has been at The University of New Mexico in one capacity or another since 2007. He started as a student, served as a New Student Orientation leader, Resident Advisor, and involved student. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he accepted a position as a Graduate Assistant for the Associate Vice President for Student Life. In 2012, he took a brief hiatus from UNM to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned his master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs in 2014.
Golden returned to UNM in 2014 to work with Fraternity and Sorority Life as a Student Activities Specialist while pursuing his MBA from the UNM Anderson School of Management. Shortly after, he became the Assistant Dean of Students in 2017.
Nasha Torrez, J.D., UNM Dean of Students, says that Golden’s extensive institutional knowledge of UNM and expertise in student affairs have prepared him for his new role. As the Associate Dean for Student Wellbeing, he will provide leadership and functional responsibility for the strategic planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of campus-wide wellness initiatives and support for students' physical, social, emotional, financial, and environmental well-being.
Torrez states that post-pandemic trends show that part of student success is acknowledging health and wellness and how they play a role in students' learning, connections, and overall functioning. "Greg is able to think creatively, and he works well with others," Torrez says. "He will be able to use these skills to maximize how we support our students."
"I’m excited to address student needs holistically in new, creative, and collaborative ways," Golden says. "I can still utilize my expertise in student development while focusing on something new. That excites me."
In addition, Golden will provide oversight of the Campus Assessment Response Education (CARE) team, Center for Financial Capability, and the repotted Social Worker Internship program, which originally began in the Women’s resource Center. He expresses enthusiasm for building upon existing programs at UNM while introducing compelling new ways to prioritize wellbeing within the division.
"Greg has extensive experience in Student Affairs, ranging from Greek Life to the Dean of Students office," Torrez says. "He has worked with students in various capacities and is aware of their needs and the trends in student support."
Moreover, Golden will be responsible for creating and implementing systems that encourage collaboration among units regarding wellness programming, including substance misuse, mental health, social stability and physical health.
Golden states that his new role will allow him to reconnect with an old passion of his. "My first job at the University of Nebraska involved working in prevention programs for alcohol abuse," Golden says. "I had the opportunity to work with an outstanding leader in the field of prevention and learned many things from her. This role is a way for me to recommit to that work and expand the important efforts at UNM."
