SIUE Welcomes Back Shavonda Mitchom as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s previous director of business affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Shavonda Mitchom, began her new role as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration on Tuesday, January 16.
Prior to joining SIUE as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration, Mitchom served for three years as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Hoyleton Youth and Family Services and eight years at SIUE as Director of Business Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Associate Director at the East St. Louis Center.
In prior roles, Mitchom served on the design and build teams at Hoyleton for the construction of youth facilities and renovation of corporate office, while leading the financing activities for those projects. Mitchom managed large budgets, participated in issuance of tax-exempt debt to fund construction and renovation of academic buildings, and worked closely with faculty and staff on various projects.
We sat down with the Carbondale native and career administrator to learn more about her inspiring journey.
You have a career path that began with a bachelor’s in economics and mathematics from Illinois State University and continued your education with an MBA in finance from SIU Carbondale. If you were advising business majors, what would you share from your own experience that may put them on a path toward an academic career?
I would advise students to explore and be open to all career paths and remind them that the relationship and mentorship from faculty and staff is one of the greatest opportunities one can have during their college career. It was during my undergraduate career at ISU where one of my professors first introduced me to the Federal Reserve and banking system. This professor mentored me as I pursued that path. At SIUC was where I learned about the many opportunities working in higher education as a financial administrator. I would advise to be open to the faculty and staff relationship and take in all the knowledge/information we are here to share. Faculty/staff at SIUE is excellent with this, which is one of the reasons I was excited to rejoin the university.
Prior to this role, you were director of business affairs for CAS as well as deputy executive director at East St. Louis Center. It seems the ability to be versatile is definitely your strength. How did your experience in a previous assignment prepare you for the next?
I have been blessed to have experiences that have allowed me to pursue a broad financial framework and understanding. Whether it was serving on a team to regulate and monitor the financial condition of national banks during an economic downturn, managing university budgets during periods of budget tightening, or leading the administrative activities for a human services agency serving disadvantaged youth and families, each of these experiences offered a unique set of challenges that required me to be flexible and agile in order to respond during difficult times. It certainly helped me to build the ability to be versatile and seek new ways of doing things.
Did your work with youth and families during your leadership at Hoyleton Youth and Family Services offer any insights into the environmental factors some area youth may be experiencing, prior to their arrival at SIUE?
My role as CFAO for Hoyleton was a rewarding experience that allowed me to improve administrative services and enhance the program environment for disadvantaged youth in Illinois, and to support staff providing care. The living environment is one of the factors that greatly affected our youth. Some youth did not have family or homes to return to, and some of the treatment and living facilities were outdated and lacked proper space. As CFAO, I directly supported these efforts by securing funding to build and renovate facilities to improve the living environment that helped youth to receive quality care. This work translates to the support SIUE administration provides to our students, faculty, and staff.
Anything else you wish to share?
I am excited to return to SIUE! I look forward to continuing the great work with colleagues I’ve worked with previously and building new relationships in my new role!
Mitchom has worked in finance and treasury roles at Washington University in St. Louis, Purdue University, and Federal Reserve banks in St. Louis and Chicago prior to joining SIUE.
In her new role, Mitchom says she looks forward to working on the campus master plan, initiatives for University Park, and capital and budget priorities for Administration to enhance educational opportunities for students and facilities used for teaching and research.
PHOTO: Shavonda Mitchom, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration