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Jeffrey Maras now oversees part of student affairs
By Gabrielle Wiegand
Dr. Jeffrey Maras is the new UIS
Assistant Dean of Students for Student/Community Development. A
long title for a big job.
Maras started at UIS on Sept. 1,
working under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Miller, Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs.
 As
assistant dean, Maras will be giving guidance to several
different departments and units within the division of Student
Affairs. He will work with the Office of Disability Services,
an area that is very close to his heart. “I do believe students
with disabilities bring a unique flavor and diversity to
campus,” said Maras.
He will also work with the Career
Service Center and the Office of Student Volunteers and Service
Learning. Maras said he will work on any special projects
assigned to him by Dr. Miller. “I work at his pleasure and help
him advance his mission for the division of student affairs,”
said Maras about Dr. Miller
Maras says the
biggest challenge that faces him in his new job is the same that
is facing many universities and institutions around the state.
“The university and the state as
a whole has been going through very serious budget concerns
which impacts services and forces units to become creative in
providing services,” said Maras. “I think it is a challenge we
can meet... and always at our base we have service to students”
Maras earned his bachelors in
philosophy and theology from what is now University of St.
Mary’s in Minnesota. He also holds a masters in counseling and
human resource development with a specialty in agency settings
from South Dakota State University.
After obtaining his masters,
Maras worked for 10 years at the SDSU counseling center while
simultaneously having a private practice specializing in
marriage and family therapy.
He then became SDSU’s associate
registrar and then associate director for student affairs.
Maras worked on projects for the university such as grant
writing. During this time, he earned his doctoral degree in
educational administration with an emphasis on higher education
from the University of South Dakota.
Before coming to UIS, Maras was
director of several TRiO programs. “TRiO programs are federally
funded programs that work with first generation college
students, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
and students with documented disabilities,” said Maras. TRiO
programs provide support services to student so they can reach
their potential success.
Maras strongly supports such
programs, saying they change students’ lives. “Education does
fundamentally and profoundly change an individual and all their
offspring,” said Maras.
Maras is also co-owner of JPJ
Grantwriting and Consulting firm that works with universities
and institutions across the country. In January, UIS contracted
JPJ to help develop a grant, which is when Maras became aware of
the position of assistant dean.
Maras remarked that he was drawn
to the change and transformation that is going on at UIS.
“There are some wonderful things happening here and I couldn’t
think of a better person to work with then Dr. Miller. It’s a
good match for both of us,” said Maras.
According to Maras, it has been
an easy transition for him because of how welcoming the UIS
community has been to him.
Dr. Maras enjoys bike riding,
traveling, and mentoring at risk youths in his spare time. He
is also a great animal lover and owns four cats.
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