Raymond Lu-Ming Ou is named vice provost of student affairs

Raymond Lu-Ming Ou

Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, a national leader in student life, will join Brandeis University as vice provost of student affairs this month at the start of the 2019-2020 academic year. Ou is currently senior associate dean of student affairs at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

Ou has significant work experience in all areas of student life: he has overseen residence life programs, diversity programs, culturally-inclusive counseling and health programs, student accessibility services, career services, academic advising and more. At Tufts, he occupies the second highest senior leadership position in a division of approximately 125 professional staff members. He previously served as a student affairs leader at universities such as Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Simmons. Ou has three degrees from Johns Hopkins University including a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in music, and a master of science in clinical counseling. He is currently a PhD candidate in organizational leadership (ABD with anticipated graduation spring 2020) at Northeastern University.

“I am confident that Raymond has the vision, experience, and skills to build upon our ongoing work around enhancing the student living and learning experience,” said Lisa Lynch, Provost and Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy. “President Ron Liebowitz and I look forward to his advice and leadership in student affairs and are confident that he will engage and help grow our community in new and creative ways.” 

At Brandeis, Raymond will oversee many of the university’s most critical student-facing departments, including the Dean of Students Office, the Hiatt Career Center, Community Living, the Center for Spiritual Life, Hillel, Family Engagement and Communications, and student health and wellness, which includes the Counseling Center, the Health Center and the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center. With Brandeis’ award-winning student affairs team, he will work closely with faculty, staff and students across the university to bring about stronger connections between the university’s curricular and co-curricular activities. Drawing on his extensive experience in student counseling, in the fall semester Ou will begin a holistic review of mental health needs on the Brandeis campus. 

“Brandeis has engaged, invested and passionate students, who care deeply about the world, the university and each other,” Ou said. “I am excited to meet and work with our students, and to lead the student affairs team as we work to create the best possible experience for every student enrolled in our undergraduate and graduate programs.”

Members of the university’s search committee included staff members Jamele M. Adams, Robert Avalle, Jessica Basile, Kate Goldfield, Ravi Lakshmikanthan, Lucas Malo, Erika Smith, Samuel Solomon; faculty members Stephen Dowden and Susan Lichtman; current and recent students Zosia Buse ’20 and Aaron Finkel ’19; and Board of Trustees member Ellen Kaplan.