UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business has named Kimberly Thomas as the new Director of the Joseph F. Decosimo Success Center in the UTC Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
Since 2013, the Decosimo Success Center has provided students in the Rollins College of Business with academic advising and career development as well as hands-on, professional experiences, career events and student programming like internships, externships, mock interviews, resume reviews, and more.
Thomas most recently served as Dean of Students at the University of Nevada, Reno. During her tenure as the Dean of Students, she supervised the Office of Student Conduct, Fraternity and Sorority Life, New Student Initiatives, the Career Studio, and the Office of Student Persistence Research.
“I look forward to engaging in collaborative efforts with new colleagues in the College of Business and the greater UTC Community. I am excited to lead the team in the Decosimo Success Center in work that supports students, increases their sense of belonging, and graduates students who will positively impact their communities and work environments.”
During her time as Dean of Students, Thomas worked to improve the student experience and increase engagement and equity on campus by launching new programs and initiatives like a campus-wide welcome week event for new students, a successful social media campaign called, “You Got This! Empowering the Pack,” and a program to educate first-year residential life students on alcohol and other drugs.
Thomas also created a team research opportunity for historically underrepresented students and first generation students called “The Living Lab,” and helped draft policies and institute practices that served to increase sense of belonging for students and increase the sense of equity in processes on campus. She led the Student Intervention Team and served on Title IX Coalition, the Dismissal Committee, the First Generation Student Success Coalition, the Academic Standards Policy Committee, and the Student Athlete Code of Conduct Committee. Additionally, she consulted with the Provost’s Office to improve safety and crisis response protocols for several academic programs.
“Kimberly’s work in higher education demonstrates a commitment to collaborative work with students, staff, and faculty to increase student persistence, retention, and graduation,” said Robert Dooley, Dean of the Rollins College of Business. “She is an innovative, strategic thought leader who values teamwork rooted in community building. Her genuine concern for student safety and success have made her a sought-after speaker for student events, recruitment events, and faculty training and we are so fortunate to have her expertise and leadership in the Decosimo Success Center.”
Thomas is originally from Alabama and earned a Bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. She practiced law and served as a stay-at-home mother for almost thirteen years before beginning her career in higher education in the Office of Student Conduct at UNR.
