For more than 12 years, Braelin Pantel, Ph.D., dean of students and associate vice president for Student Engagement and Wellness, has helped make Metropolitan State University of Denver a place where all students feel supported, connected and ready to thrive. On July 8, Pantel will bid farewell to the University to begin a new professional chapter as vice president of Student Life at the Colorado School of Mines.
“MSU Denver has been an incredibly supportive place for me to grow as a leader,” she said. “Reflecting on how we’ve evolved as an institution over the last decade, I can see how powerful this community — and the people within it — is. I’m so grateful to have been a part of this institution and look forward to seeing MSU Denver continue to advance meaningful progress in higher education in Colorado and beyond in the coming years.”
Throughout her time as a Roadrunner, Pantel has had a significant impact on the student experience and has been a fierce advocate for the University’s mission, vision and values. In particular, she led the formation and development of the Veteran and Military Student Center, the Student Care Center and the CARE Team and supported the development of the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion.
She has supported students and colleagues across a number of programs, areas and initiatives, playing critical roles in:
- The formation of the current model for student governance.
- The Roadrunners Safe Return Committee and Covid-19 response.
- The implementation of the University’s current model for supporting students’ mental health, which allows students to access clinical mental-health care at no additional cost in the Counseling Center and the Health Center at Auraria, removing a significant barrier for many.
For these contributions and many others, Pantel was recognized with the 2021 President’s Distinguished Service Award. At the awards ceremony, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., lauded Pantel for her “passionate and compassionate leadership” as well as the caring and generous spirit she extends to students as well as colleagues.
“Braelin is so successful in her role because she cares deeply and genuinely about each and every student,” Davidson said. “She practices inclusive leadership, she listens, and she thoroughly and thoughtfully considers how even small decisions might impact student success. This has made her an outstanding leader here at MSU Denver.”
“Braelin will be deeply missed, and her impact on the Roadrunner experience will be deeply felt for many years to come,” added Will Simpkins, Ed.D., vice president for Student Affairs. “She has been a partner, a thought leader, a mentor, and students within the School of Mines are extremely lucky to benefit from her enthusiastic and skillful leadership.”
Prior to joining MSU Denver, Pantel served as dean of Students from 2006-10 at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where she was also director of student activities and assistant dean of students from 2004-06. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Union College as well as a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, with a specialization in Student Development, from the University of Denver. In 2019, she earned a doctoral degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where she studied higher-education administration and student-affairs leadership.
Her final day with MSU Denver is July 8. Members of the MSU Denver employee community are invited to a farewell party July 7 from 2-4 p.m. in the Tivoli Student Union, Room 320.
Dr. Cynthia Baron, Associate Dean of Equity and Engagement with the Center for Equity and Student Achievement, will be serving as Interim Associate Vice President for Student Engagement & Wellness and Dean of Students as of July 9, 2022. She will be supported by Thomas Ragland, Assistant Dean of Students, who will provide interim supervision of the Student Care Center and student housing supports, and Katie Joyce, Special Projects Manager & Assistant to the AVP/Dean of Students.
In the coming weeks, MSU Denver will launch a national search for a permanent leader of these areas