Donell Young, J.D. - Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students - University of Houston
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Donell Young, J.D. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Email: DLYoung4@central.uh.edu

Donell Young joined Houston's Division of Student Affairs and August 3, 2020 as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

Young has overall responsibility and accountability for providing leadership in long-range planning, program development, problem solving, and staff development. Young provides administrative oversight to the following departments: the Dean of Students Office, Children’s Learning Center, Veteran Services, Women and Gender Resource Center, International Student and Scholar Services, Student Conduct, Student Advocacy Services, UH Student Handbook, Parent and Family Programs, Commuter Student Services and the Student Fee Advisory Committee.

Prior to his role as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Young served as Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Student Success & Engagement at the University of Missouri’s Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.

Young began his career in higher education in 2001 as a coordinator in Lincoln University’s Division of Student Affairs before joining the staff at the University of Missouri as a senior coordinator in its Office of Student Conduct in 2004. Promoted in 2013 to assistant director of the Division of Student Affairs/Department of Student Life, Young then became director of the Center for Academic Success & Excellence in MU Division of Undergraduate Studies and eLearning in 2015. Since February 2016, he has also served as assistant vice-chancellor, overseeing two dozen staff focused on student success and engagement, as well as numerous other departments.

Young earned an associate degree from Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, then a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Lincoln University, where he also earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and sociology in 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri’s School of Law in 2015.

Over his career, Young has been recognized with numerous honors, including winning the “Mizzou 39 Advisor Award” five times, and the Student Affairs Outstanding Services to Our Campus and Community Award twice. Black Heritage Ball Distinguished Service Award. Big XII Conference on Black Student Government. Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award. NAACP Image Award for the Advisor of the Year Award. Wellness Resource Center Outstanding Support and Leadership Award.