ALEXANDRA CHASTAIN BRYAN
Columbia
Summary
Senior student affairs and housing professional with over 10 years of leadership in residential life across public and private institutions, including the University of Missouri. Expertise in residential education, staff recruitment, crisis management, and large-scale operations. Proven ability to enhance student success through effective supervision, assessment, and collaboration with various campus departments.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Vice President of Student Experience & Title IX Coordinator
Stephens College
Columbia
01.2024 - Current
- Provide executive oversight for Residential Life and Campus Life, setting strategic priorities for residential education, student leadership, community development, budgeting, and staff training.
- Strategically design and implement culturally immersive programs to foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship
- Supervise professional staff and guide organizational effectiveness across student-facing departments.
- Serve as Chair of the Behavioral Intervention Team, managing complex, high-risk student cases and collaborating with campus and external partners on care and intervention strategies.
- Partner closely with Academic Affairs to align residential initiatives with institutional learning outcomes, retention goals, and student success priorities.
- Lead assessment of student experience initiatives, using data to inform continuous improvement and resource allocation.
- Manage Title IX caseload
Assistant Vice President of Student Experience & Title IX Coordinator
Stephens College
Columbia
03.2023 - 12.2023
- Provided direct leadership for Residential Life, including oversight of staff recruitment, selection, onboarding, and training for professional and student staff.
- Supervised Director and Assistant Director of Student Experience and approximately 20 part-time staff; established consistent hiring practices and equitable staffing models.
- Led campus-wide residential training initiatives focused on crisis response, DEI, community standards, and student engagement.
- Served as lead conduct officer and key contributor to campus planning related to residential facilities and operations.
- Manages Title IX responsibilities, including coordinating campus-wide training, managing casework processes and protocols, and coordinating the investigative process.
Director of Campus Life
Stephens College
Columbia
07.2021 - 03.2023
- Directed Residential Life operations for six residence halls and apartment communities.
- Led planning and execution of major campus events including move-in, orientation, and commencement-related activities.
- Managed departmental budgets, risk management, and student conduct processes.
Director of Residential Life
Westminster College
Fulton
12.2019 - 07.2021
- Provided comprehensive leadership for an 850-bed residential system, including staffing, residential education, student conduct, and operational planning.
- Directed recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of professional and student housing staff.
- Developed residential policies, managed departmental assessment efforts, and oversaw budget planning and allocation (~$200K).
- Taught credit-bearing leadership courses emphasizing leadership development, DEI, and life skills.
- Served on admissions, retention, and DEI committees, contributing a residential perspective to institutional strategy.
Area Coordinator
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence
02.2018 - 12.2019
- Managed a 500-bed first-year residential area and supervised graduate and undergraduate student staff.
- Designed and assessed residential learning outcomes focused on leadership, multicultural competence, academic success, and wellbeing.
- Created and facilitated staff training on social justice, crisis management, supervision, and professionalism.
- Responded to and coordinated follow-up for complex crisis situations, including sexual misconduct, mental health emergencies, missing students, and facilities incidents.
- Played a significant role in recruitment, interview, selection, and placement of Residential Life staff.
- Oversaw student affairs operations for a large pre-college summer program serving 540-570 minors, emphasizing risk management and compliance.
Residence Hall Coordinator
University of Missouri
Columbia
08.2016 - 02.2018
- Managed a 525-bed first-year residential community; supervised, trained, and developed student staff.
- Led assessment initiatives and contributed to departmental assessment committees to enhance residential education outcomes.
- Coordinated multiple Living-Learning Communities (Health Professions, Nursing, ROTC, and General), partnering with academic and campus stakeholders.
- Served on university committees supporting academic persistence, student success, and staff recruitment.
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO01.2026
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO12.2014
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO08.2010
Skills
- Residential Life Leadership
- Residential Education & Curriculum
- Student Leadership Development
- Staff Recruitment
- Selection & Training
- Crisis Response
- CARE/At-Risk Case Management
- Budget Management
- Resource Allocation
- Assessment
- Continuous Improvement
- DEI-Centered Practice
- Campus Partnerships
- Major Event Coordination
- Policy Development
- Supervision of Professional & Student Staff
Publications
- Leadership case study: Diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges in post-COVID higher education, Bryan, A., Robinson, T., Jones, I., Thomas, J., 2024, Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership
- Reinventing Student Affairs: Harnessing AI for Enhanced Efficiency and Improved Employee Wellbeing, American College Personnel Association (ACPA), 2025
- Short-Term Study Abroad: A Catalyst for Student Growth in Higher Education, American College Personnel Association (ACPA), 2026
Timeline
Associate Vice President of Student Experience & Title IX Coordinator
Stephens College
01.2024 - Current
Assistant Vice President of Student Experience & Title IX Coordinator
Stephens College
03.2023 - 12.2023
Director of Campus Life
Stephens College
07.2021 - 03.2023
Director of Residential Life
Westminster College
12.2019 - 07.2021
Area Coordinator
Rhode Island School of Design
02.2018 - 12.2019
Residence Hall Coordinator
University of Missouri
08.2016 - 02.2018
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
University of Missouri
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
University of Missouri
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Missouri