WHO’s WHO @VCU

Timothy A. Reed, director of University Student Commons and activities, came to Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998. His job consists of overseeing his staff in running VCU’s programs and activities.

“I guess sort of my role is to make sure that (the staff) gets all the resources and support they need to do their jobs,” Reed said.

Reed has worked with planning the homecoming activities in past years. Kelli S. Lemon, assistant director for Monroe Park Campus programs and events, has served with Reed on the homecoming committee.

“He’s seen homecomings at different schools,” said Lemon. “He knows how it takes the whole university to get behind something in order for a successful homecoming to run.”

For this spring’s homecoming, Reed’s role is not as large as it has been in past years.

“I guess my biggest role was to make sure that the student co- (chair), Brandes Ash and Kelli Lemon, who’s the staff co-chair, that they get everything that they need to make homecoming be the most successful that it can be,” Reed said. “Making sure that if there’s policies, procedures – I sort of serve as (an) ex-officio adviser to the whole homecoming process.

“But I don’t serve on the committee anymore,” Reed said. “I kind of let the committee do its thing. My role is to make sure that it gets the support it needs from the university.”

Lemon said Reed helped develop homecoming into an event with a budget and student involvement. She also said it is a big event for spring and she thinks Reed will take part to make the homecoming celebration develop even more.

“I think he’ll be in the process of continuously making it grow,” Lemon said. I think he’ll be in the process of trying to see how we can get the rest of the university community, tie the (VCU Medical Center) along, tie faculty, staff along and making it a very spirited, fun VCU tradition.”

Reed earned an undergraduate degree in communication studies and a quasi minor in theater from the University of Evansville in Indiana. He holds a doctorate in student affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and received a master’s in student affairs from Ohio State University.

Reuban B. Rodriguez, associate vice provost and dean of student affairs, spoke highly of Reed’s personality.

“He’s very outgoing and engaging,” Rodriguez said. “He is always student friendly.” Rodriguez also said Reed is readily available to assist student’s needs however he can assist them.

“So he’s very upfront and very approachable with regards to working with our students,” Rodriguez said.

Reed said he tries to make himself available for students’ concerns and questions regarding the University Student Commons or the Larrick Dining Center, the Student Government Association or other programs. He makes himself available to students by answering e-mails or talking to them. His availability also includes physically being on campus.

“I also try to make myself available by just being available in the Commons,” Reed said, “or around campus and walking through and saying ‘Hi’ to people and people catch me all the time. I end up late to meetings a lot of times because someone catches me in between. I don’t ever want to turn away a student who may have a quick question.”

Reed said students are important to his job.

“I feel it’s especially important in my position for me to stay connected to the students,” Reed said, “for the students to feel that they’re comfortable coming to talk to me, otherwise I won’t know what students want and my job is about making sure that students are having extraordinary experiences at college.”

Reed, born in 1960 in Cincinnati, came to VCU upon completing his doctorate in search of a new position. He was attracted to VCU for two reasons. One reason was because VCU was different from other schools he had previously worked with.

“Urban, up-and-coming institution, very different, very diverse population,” Reed said, “were all the things that attracted me to VCU. The concept that, also that, this department was going to have to grow was another very attractive thing.”

The second reason Reed chose VCU included the change and growth that was occurring at the university.

“With the changes that President Trani had already brought in, in 1998, you can see where the university has gone even since then. And the dynamic staff, the division of student affairs was very clear that this is an institution that was growing. And I really wanted to be part of an institution that was in (a) change process.”

Lemon said Reed worked at other colleges and is familiar with how a student union should appear.

“Because of VCU’s transition,” Lemon said, “I think no one here really knew how to make this once traditional off-campus commuter school into a true campus, a true four-year college where we retain (people.) You know, freshman come in, we keep them and they graduate when they’re seniors. And they actually have a campus life.

“And I think that he brings a lot of that to the table from the different places that he’s worked at, the different conferences that he’s involved in, and I truly think he understands the students’ affairs aspect of it all.”

Rodriguez said Reed’s job is increasingly growing.

“For instance, his scope of operations now will include Hunton Hall, the building that we’re renovating (on) the MCV campus,” Rodriguez said. “Part of the new $50 million recreational center upgrades that we’re doing on both campuses will include a recreation of the Larrick Center on the MCV campus. So that piece of the facility will fall under his responsibility.”

As Reed sat behind his desk professionally dressed, he said the most important part of his job is to produce worthwhile experiences for VCU students.

“When I walk in the building every morning,” Reed said, “what’s first on my mind is what we are doing to make the VCU experience for students something that will change their lives, (because) that’s what college is supposed to be about. You’re supposed to be changed through your academic, and then you’re supposed to be changed through your non-academic.

“And I’m part of the non-academic world. That means learning. That means teaching. That means supervising, that means whatever -whatever it means to make that experience.”

Reed said he does his job because of the interaction with VCU students.

“I work directly with groups like the SGA, the Activities Programming Board, the student managers and student employees we have even in the Commons and Larrick,” he said. “All of those to me are why I do this and I think really the most rewarding is watching students grow and change.”