Rogers State University has named Benjamin Donals as the director of student success. Donals assumed his duties Monday, June 5.
A recent Oklahoma City resident, Donals comes to RSU with a background as an academic advisor as well as extensive experience in student outreach and advisement in academia.
“Before getting hired at RSU, I was working at the University of Oklahoma in the Center for Student Advancement (CSA), which is committed to providing programs and services that promote the retention and success of students experiencing academic challenges,” Donals said. “This (CSA) offers specialized advising and courses such as strategies for success, aimed at improving student academic standing and developing successful personal and academic habits.”
Donals comes to RSU having previously worked as a teacher at Andale High School in Andale, Kansas (2015-17); admissions counselor at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas (2017-18); academic advisor at Wichita State University (2018-21); and retention specialist at the University of Oklahoma (2021-23).
Donals holds an Associate of Arts in mass communications from Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas; a Bachelor of Arts in education, secondary education – history and government, from Wichita State University; and a Master of Education in educational psychology, with an emphasis in higher education student affairs, also from Wichita State University.
During his tenure at the University of Oklahoma, student advocacy was a significant aspect of Donals’ regular duties. While there, he advised students on university requirements, classes, deadlines and policies. He also designed and implemented curriculum for the UCOL (University College) strategies for success course aimed at improving student academic standing and developing successful personal and academic habits, assisted in the training of instructors for the UCOL 2002 course, conducted one-on-one coaching sessions with students on academic agreements, designed promotional materials for the Center for Student Advancement, and more.
“A couple of years ago, I moved to Oklahoma City to be near my girlfriend and eventual wife,” he continued. “She’s from the Tulsa area, so we started looking into moving back to Tulsa. I knew I wanted to continue to work in some element of student success – I love doing that work – and, as it turned out, RSU was creating a new position to address needs within that area.”
As RSU’s director of student success, Donals will lead a holistic advising program that supports students from admissions through graduation. This new position will enhance orientation, advising and the matriculation process. As director, Donals will implement new strategies, re-envision existing programs and increase student persistence.
Donals will report to Dr. Richard Beck, vice president for academic affairs.
“This position is an outgrowth of three institutional findings on student success contained in the RSU Strategic Plan 2022-27, Higher Learning Commission Student Success Academy Summary 2023, and Ruffalo Noel Levitz Strategic Enrollment Plan 2023,” Beck said. “The position will address student advisement, first-time freshman students, and first-time transfer students initially.”
Donals’ primary duties include the establishment of relevant policies, procedures, and practices to support student retention; hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating academic advisors; providing leadership for both the first-year and the transfer experience; building institutional awareness, supporting program assessment, and providing consultation on retention and persistence; overseeing recruitment of and training for first-year experience course instructors; developing and monitoring an annual budget; collaborating and providing support for orientation and advising activities; and more.
“We feel Mr. Donals brings a broad perspective, having worked in areas of student success at three very different institutions for higher education,” Beck said. “We are excited to be working with him.”
Even though he’s just getting started, Donals said he’s excited about becoming part of the landscape and making a positive difference at RSU.
“Something I’m very focused on is efficiency,” he said. “Whenever I’m in a position, I’m always mindful of what the best way to be effective in that position is. I’ve always been a proponent of working smarter, not harder.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to the university and to helping the students. That’s the reason why I chose to work in education in the first place,” he said. “I’d planned to be a teacher, but soon realized that higher education was much more interesting to me. I felt like my impact could be greater in higher education and that my personality was a better match there. I’m excited to bring any help that I can to support students and the academic advisors at RSU.”
Donals is married to Nicolette, who works as a physician’s assistant. The couple will make their home in the northeastern Tulsa area.
For more information about Rogers State University, including how to apply as a student, visit www.rsu.edu.