DeKALB — Leaders of the Division of Student Affairs will oversee the department as the search continues for a permanent replacement of former Vice President Eric Weldy.

Weldy, who left NIU Jan. 1 after accepting the position of vice chancellor of student affairs at Indiana University, Purdue, was among three members of President Doug Baker’s cabinet whose departures were announced late last semester. Alan Phillips, vice president of administration and finance, will be retiring March 1, and Jerry Blakemore, former vice president and general counsel, has been replaced by Greg Brady, acting vice president and general counsel.

The Division of Student Affairs will be led by Kelly Wesener Michael, associate vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students, and Mike Stang, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.

“At this point in time, there haven’t been decisions made on how the division will be led,” Michael said. “In the interim, as we are making these decisions, Mike Stang and I are heading up the leadership division. At this point in time, what is important is that we remain consistent in the work of division.”

The Division of Student Affairs provides students with the information and support they need to be successful at NIU, according to the program’s website.

Michael joined NIU 10 years ago as the executive director of Housing and Dining. During her decade on campus she held multiple positions on the executive leadership team for Student Affairs including a one-year term as vice president of the division.

Stang, who joined NIU 19 years ago, has also held leadership roles within Housing and Dining.

“For the semester ahead, we want to be sure to support the enrollment management of our colleagues because we know that is critically important for the health of the campus community,” Wesener said. “We really want to focus on how we can ensure that we are providing the best positive experience for students as we are developing the Division of Student Affairs and configuration of that.”

During this period of adjustment, Wesener said she and Stang will be remaining consistent in their division.

“We want to make sure that we continue to look for different energies and synergies across the campus in collaboration to make sure we are doing all that we can to maximize the work that we are doing,” Michael said.

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Morgan Fink is a staff writer. She can be reached at [email protected].