I am pleased to announce the hiring of Amy Wilms as the Director of the Academic Resource Center and Disability Services at Vanguard University of Southern California.

Amy has been a vital support for students for over 30 years, most recently serving as the Assistant Dean of Academic Success & Disability Services at the University of Redlands. At Redlands, Amy provided leadership for her department and guided the student supports of the campus to help their 4,500+ students.

Amy earned a BA in Communications Arts from Grove City College in Grove City, PA. She went on to receive her M. Ed. in College Student Personnel; counseling from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. Before transitioning into her most recent role, Amy lent her expertise to the Title IX office, Career Services department, and created a course designed to prepare students for life after college which received national recognition.

In her role as Assistant Dean of Academic Success & Disability Services, Amy has been able to provide strategic vision and meaningful change to an incredibly important program. She provided developmental, learning, and growth opportunities to her students while managing and developing her own team. ​

As the Director of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and Disability Services (DS) Amy will serve as a champion for our students, a proponent for the ARC team, and an incredible source of resources and experience for the University as a whole. Her ability to include multiple modalities and her extensive experience across a wide range of student support will make her a uniquely equipped advocate for our students. In conjunction with the Associate Dean of Student Success, Amy will set objectives for ARC and DS that are consistent with institutional priorities to promote student success, ensure access, and to enhance the educational experience of all students. Amy will also maintain the quality, coherence, and continuity of the overall programs and assumes an active role in promoting and supporting academic achievement.

We would like to thank Kelly Aponte, Assistant Director of Disability Services for her exemplary leadership and oversight of the Disability Services Office during this transition period. I would also like to thank our incredible team in the Academic Resource Center: Kyle Durham, Ona La Motte, Tom Shirey for uniting to provide excellent Academic Resource Center support through this leadership change.

Amy’s office will be located in the Disability Services suite in Smith Hall 103. Please join me in welcoming Amy to Vanguard!