Dear LMU Community,
I write to share heartfelt news about a long-standing and deeply respected member of our LMU community. After nearly 35 years of dedicated service, Rich Rocheleau, associate vice president for student life, will be retiring from Loyola Marymount University. His last day will be Aug. 15, 2025.
AVP Rocheleau’s impact on LMU is truly immeasurable. Since joining the university in 1990 as assistant director for residence life, AVP Rocheleau served in numerous leadership roles, including director of Student Housing and director of Student Affairs facilities, before stepping into the AVP role in 2006. His tenure has been marked by a steadfast commitment to cura personalis — the care of the whole person — and to cultivating a vibrant, student-centered campus life.
Throughout the years, AVP Rocheleau has provided strategic leadership across many areas of student life, including Student Housing, Resident Ministry, Student Leadership, Sorority and Fraternity Life, Campus Recreation, the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action, Ethnic and Intercultural Services, LGBT Student Services, Student Success, and more. He has also led critical cross-divisional partnerships that have strengthened our approach to student retention, engagement, and technology services. Beyond Student Affairs, AVP Rocheleau has contributed to academic life as both an instructor for the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering’s living learning communities and the LMU School of Education’s higher education master’s degree program.
Please join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to AVP Rocheleau for his dedication, compassion, and unwavering leadership in shaping the LMU student experience. Details about a community celebration in his honor this August will be shared in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, we have launched a national search for the newly titled role of associate vice president for residential life and integrated learning, a position that reflects our developing vision for holistic, integrated student engagement. This new AVP will serve as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs, oversee Student Housing, Student Leadership Development, the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action, Campus Recreation and Student Facilities, and lead the division’s integrated learning initiatives.
The search will be chaired by Roberto Aguirre, vice president for Campus Safety Services, and led by Elaine Peters, executive recruiter. I’m grateful to the following colleagues who have agreed to serve on the search committee:
- Linda Clowers, associate vice president for student success and belonging;
- Beth Crowell, director, facilities management support services, Facilities Management;
- Michael Medina, director, Campus Recreation and Student Facilities;
- Jenny Fukunaga, associate director of community and academic engagement, Pam Rector Center for Service and Action;
- Taryn Vander Hoop, faculty fellow in residence, associate professor and chair of dance;
- Satinder Gill, director, Student Psychological Services;
- Isabel Villalobos-Galeana, assistant director for residence life, community development, Student Housing;
- Jennette Ramirez, senior administrative coordinator, Student Leadership and Development;
- Thomas Rife ’26, a computer science major, a member of the Student Affairs Advisory Board and Crimson Circle Service Organization.
This is a pivotal opportunity to build on AVP Rocheleau’s incredible legacy while further enriching the co-curricular experience for our students. We will miss him greatly and are profoundly grateful for all he has contributed to LMU. Please join me in thanking Rich for his extraordinary service.
Warm regards,
Kawanna Leggett, Ed.D.
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
Instagram: @drkawannalmu