Allison Wheeler
Indianapolis,Indiana
Summary
As a collaborative leader committed to cultivating an engaged and empowered work culture, I bring a documented track record of building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings. My professional background reflects a high level of organization and ability to navigate complex challenges, coupled with extensive experience in project management, team development, and process improvement.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
01.2021 - Current
- Led the planning and execution of large-scale events for 2400+ clients and guests, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. Managed diverse tasks including event logistics, communication planning, resource acquisition, and on-site supervision, ensuring flawless execution.
- Led and managed a three-year housing program for a collegiate clientele during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oversaw client triage, intake processes, continuous communication, protocol implementation, and resource allocation.
- Initiated a departmental self-assessment and program review, leading project timeline development, managing feedback sessions for stakeholders, implementing engagement strategies, composing reports, and overseeing overall project management.
- Developed and executed outcome-driven process enhancements throughout the department, concentrating on optimizing the paraprofessional experience, streamlining onboarding/offboarding procedures, and refining annual departmental processes.
- Provided exemplary leadership and oversight to a team of 5-10 professionals in strategic initiative management and customer service roles. Offered mentorship, training, performance evaluation, and personalized development plans.
- Led the planning, presentation, and representation of marketing materials at university-sponsored enrollment events, contributing to the institution's growth and visibility.
- Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to identify opportunities for enhancement and expansion, collaborating closely with key stakeholders to align departmental objectives with organizational goals.
Associate Director for Residence Life
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
07.2017 - 01.2021
- Provided executive oversight for a multifaceted, multi-unit office structure. Supervised and coached nine professional and seventy paraprofessional staff, managed operational expenses, established and maintained external partnerships, and developed strategic projects.
- Led the transformation of a comprehensive program designed for 2700 collegiate-level clients. Crafted a need and outcome-driven learning plan focusing on community management, interpersonal relationships, personal and professional development, and fostering identity-based awareness.
- Led the recruitment, supervision, training, and mentorship of a workforce exceeding 80 professionals and paraprofessionals who were responsible for the direct management of university-sponsored housing units.
- Functioned as a primary liaison for elevated and confidential concerns spanning human resources, Title IX compliance, mental health matters, and other risk-management issues. Offered immediate response, and situation management, and communicated necessary follow-ups as required.
- Strategically recruited and managed new partnerships focusing on client retention over a 2-3-year timeframe. Directly oversaw the acquisition, management, and expansion of fourteen key academic entity partnerships, engineered to enhance client matriculation and foster a sense of belonging.
- Developed, reviewed, and guided crisis management and intervention strategies, policies, and procedures. Led strategy formulation, training initiatives, compliance enforcement, assessment protocols, and comprehensive follow-through involving students, parents, and university administration.
Adjunct Faculty
IUPUI
08.2010 - 12.2018
- Crafted curriculum content for first-year learning community seminars, emphasizing outcome-driven learning. Topics included resume development, service learning, and the enhancement of communication and presentation skills.
- Managed and facilitated content delivery across diverse modalities, including online, hybrid, and in-person course formats, ensuring that educational materials were effectively tailored to each setting.
- Utilized a variety of communication channels to actively engage with students and convey course content and expectations. Conducted one-on-one meetings, utilized the Canvas platform, sent emails, and distributed printed materials as needed.
Asst. Dir., Residence Life and Academic Initiative
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
07.2012 - 07.2017
- Led the development and oversight of a comprehensive residence life program, overseeing over ninety staff members and 2700 students across multiple on-campus and off-campus buildings. This included managing a public-private partnership with a non-affiliated apartment complex.
- Directed the operations of the Residence Life division within the department, overseeing critical responsibilities such as staff recruitment, supervision, and performance management. Managed financial stewardship of operational expenses, cultivated external relationships, and played a key role in the strategic development of major projects.
- Conducted annual assessments to actively engage on-campus constituents, identifying programmatic and resource needs. Feedback led to the successful implementation of student success initiatives such as mentoring programs, study tables, and wellness workshops.
- Designed and executed tailored identity-based programs to meet the evolving demographics of the client population. This included significant contributions to the creation of programs specifically addressing historically marginalized, second-year, first-generation, and out-of-state client populations.
- Enhanced collaboration and coordination efforts for first-year transitional programs in close partnership with key campus stakeholders, with a primary goal of improving retention and the overall matriculation experience for collegiate clientele.
- Managed the allocation and distribution of funding for multiple internal scholarship opportunities, overseeing all aspects from marketing and recruitment to compliance management, ensuring the successful implementation and impact of these scholarships.
Academic Advisor
University College - IUPUI
06.2008 - 07.2012
- Enhanced student success by developing and implementing comprehensive academic plans.
- Improved retention rates by providing personalized guidance to students at various stages of their academic journey.
- Promoted a positive learning environment with effective communication and collaborative problem-solving strategies.
- Assisted students in identifying career goals and aligning them with appropriate academic programs.
- Coordinated academic support services within the residence hall to ensure a conducive and supportive learning environment for students.
First Year Advisor
Miami University
07.2006 - 06.2008
- Managed a first-year student-occupied residence hall with 220+ residents, overseeing the selection, training, and supervision of nine student staff. Implemented a residential learning community programming model inspired by healthy living. Administered hall governance and provided behavioral oversight for residential students.
- Holistically advised students through conversation on their experience at the university, transition concerns, roommate situations, course selection, degree progress, and choice of major.
- Conducted approximately 20 – 30 midterm interventions and academic warning meetings with students to create action plans that identified opportunities for success.
Education
Master of Science - Education
Indiana University
Indianapolis, IN05.2006
Bachelor of Social Work - Case Management
Indiana University
Indianapolis, IN05.2003
Skills
- Team collaboration and leadership
- Communication
- Strategic leadership
- Customer relationship management
- Team operations
- Stakeholder engagement
- Problem resolution
- Process improvement
Teaching Experience
- IU Kelley School of Business (IUPUI) - BUS-X103 (1 credit) 8/2010 – 5/2016
- IU Kelley School of Business (IUPUI) - BUS-X203 (2 credit) 8/2010 – 5/2016
- University College (IUPUI) - UCOL-U110 (1 credit) 8/2016 – 12/2018
Additional Information
Certifications
- Sexual Misconduct Responsible Employees Title IX Training. Indiana University. Certified annually.
- Clery Act Campus Security Authority Training. Indiana University. Certified annually.
- Preventing Sexual Harassment Training. Indiana University. Certified every three years.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace. Certificate received 7/2021
Professional Development & Involvement
- Behavioral Consultation Team, Core Member
- IU COVID-19 Response Team – Housing, IUPUI Representative
- CliftonStrengths, Trainer
- IU Bicentennial Committee – Time Capsule workgroup (IUPUI), Co-chair
- Staff Council, DoSA representative (elected member) and Member at Large (executive committee member)
- Students Taking Academic Responsibility (STAR), Mentor
- Served on and chaired multiple executive-level search committees
Timeline
Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
01.2021 - Current
Associate Director for Residence Life
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
07.2017 - 01.2021
Asst. Dir., Residence Life and Academic Initiative
Housing And Residence Life - IUPUI
07.2012 - 07.2017
Adjunct Faculty
IUPUI
08.2010 - 12.2018
Academic Advisor
University College - IUPUI
06.2008 - 07.2012
First Year Advisor
Miami University
07.2006 - 06.2008
Master of Science - Education
Indiana University
Bachelor of Social Work - Case Management
Indiana University