Allen Groves, J.D.
Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer
Allen Groves joined the University in July 2021 as chief student experience officer, reporting to Chancellor Michael Haynie. He leads an experienced team of professionals who shape an inclusive and unsurpassed student experience. Allen provides strategic direction for and executive oversight of the division, including new student orientation and Welcome Week, student health and wellness (the Barnes Center at The Arch), Public Safety, Community Standards, Residential Living, competitive Club Sports and intramural sports, Student Engagement, Greek Life, the Intercultural Collective, Esports, Student Title IX Case Management, and Parent and Family Services.
Following a 16-year career as an equity partner in a global law firm, Allen served as Dean of Students at the University of Virginia for 14 years prior to joining Syracuse University. He earned a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in history from Stetson University. A frequently sought-after speaker on free expression and the First Amendment, Allen is one of the authors of the Syracuse Statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry as well as the University of Virginia’s Statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry. In 2026, Allen received the Syracuse University Chancellor’s Medal for his impactful contributions to student life. He previously received the University of Virginia’s Raven Award and the Outstanding Virginian Award from Equality Virginia.
Dawn Singleton, Ed.D.
Vice President and Deputy to the Senior Vice President
Dawn Singleton serves as the Vice President and Deputy to Senior Vice President Groves, overseeing a wide array of student support programs to include Student Health and Wellness/Barnes Center at The Arch, New Student Programs, Residential Living, LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Belonging and Student Success, Native Student Program/113 Euclid, the Barner-McDuffie House, Center for International Services, Parent and Family Services, as well as the Dean of Students unit, which encompasses Community Standards, Student Outreach and Support, Student Title IX Case Management, and a variety of other student engagement and support programs. She works to ensure that students receive the resources and guidance necessary to thrive both academically and personally.
Dawn’s professional career reflects a breadth and depth of higher education experiences helping students succeed and flourish during their college experience. Her professional experiences include student affairs, leadership development, student success and retention initiatives, crisis management, and program assessment and evaluation. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Dawn held multiple higher education leadership roles at a variety of institutional types, where she led and launched multiple initiatives, programs and services to enhance student success. In addition to her administrative role, Dawn is also a consultant and educator, focused on higher education leadership. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Rowan University with a focus on comparative and international education research. Within the Syracuse community, Dawn actively contributes as a member of the Saint Joseph’s Health Foundation Board of Directors and the Say Yes Syracuse, Central New York Community Foundation.
Michael Bunker
Associate Vice President and Chief of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services
Michael Bunker serves as associate vice president and chief of campus safety and emergency management services at Syracuse University. In this role, he oversees public safety operations, emergency management services, crisis planning and community outreach. Since joining the University in July 2025, Mike has emphasized a student-centered and transparent approach to campus safety, prioritizing proactive engagement, trust-building and collaboration with students, faculty and staff. He is committed to being a visible leader across campus, strengthening preparedness, and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all members of the Orange community.
Prior to coming to Syracuse University, Mike served as chief of campus safety at the University of Denver, commander with the Georgetown University Police Department and in other municipal and campus public safety departments. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Mike earned a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown and an MBA from the University of Denver.
Kyle Dailey
Associate Vice President, Student Involvement and Engagement
Kyle Dailey joined the Division in January 2022 and serves as the associate vice president for student involvement and engagement. In this position he serves as the executive team lead for Student Engagement, Greek Life, Competitive Club Sports, and divisional Communications and Marketing. Additionally, he leads the Division’s Operational Framework assessment, the development of Student Leadership Programs, the University’s Threat Assessment Management Team, and the Student Activism Engagement Team. He also serves as the functional Chief of Staff to Senior Vice President Groves.
Prior to joining Syracuse University, Kyle held student affairs leadership roles at Cedar Crest College, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, the University of Georgia and Kent State University. He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Sheriah Dixon G’12
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Sheriah Dixon began her role as Dean of Students in the Student Experience Division in 2022. As Dean of Students, Sheriah leads the teams in Community Standards, Student Outreach and Support, Student Title IX Case Management and Student Remote Support Programs. Additionally, Sheriah serves as the Title VI Coordinator and co-chairs the Chancellor’s Sexual and Relationship Violence Advisory Committee. Sheriah brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, including roles in student conduct, community standards, equal opportunity and Title IX, and residence life. She has worked in all aspects of student conduct policies, investigations, and processes, and has led efforts focused on creating positive living-learning environments.
Sheriah earned a master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal investigation from State University of New York (SUNY) Canton.
Cory Wallack, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Student Health and Wellness
Cory Wallack, serves as associate vice president of student health and wellness, providing leadership in achieving the University’s integration of health and wellness services through the pioneering Barnes Center at The Arch, a state-of-the-art health, wellness and recreation complex. He oversees student counseling, health care, recreation, pharmaceutical, nutrition and health promotion services on campus, as well as the “Together We Thrive” program. Cory joined Syracuse University in 2003, and has served in roles of staff therapist, assistant director of counseling and director of counseling prior to being named executive director.
Cory is considered a national expert in college student mental health and is a creator of the best-practice Campus Connect Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program. He holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in counseling psychology both from the University of Florida.
Kevin Costello
Assistant Vice President, Business Operations and Staff Development
Kevin Costello began his role as assistant vice president of business operations and staff development for the Student Experience Division in January 2024. In this position he is responsible for overseeing and supervising the Division’s Budget, Human Resources, IT, Staff Performance Partnership Process, Staff Professional Development and Student Employment units and operations. Kevin has been with the Student Experience Division since 2011. During this time he held positions as assistant director of budget, budget manager and budget director. His experience prior to Syracuse University includes several years in public accounting, where he worked as a senior auditor for a local accounting firm and later as an assistant controller in the private sector.
Kevin is a two-time graduate of Syracuse University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business analytics from the Whitman School of Management, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of New York.
Steven Herndon
Assistant Vice President, Residential Living
Steve Herndon joined Student Experience in January 2023, as the assistant vice president for Residential Living, overseeing all aspects of the Residential Living program, including residential life and off-campus and apartment living. He also partners with Academic Affairs in the development and delivery of more than 20 living learning communities (LLC). Prior to joining Syracuse University, Steve had a highly successful 20-year career at the University of Dayton where he held leadership roles within residential life and housing.
A sought-after speaker about residential life, education and the future of the Student Affairs profession, Steve has been a regular presenter, educator and leader within the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute, Association of College and University Housing Officers-International and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. He was also recognized as a 2022 Diamond Honoree of the ACPA. A two-time graduate of North Carolina State University, Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in English with a concentration in African-American literature.
Joey Gawrysiak, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Esports
Joey Gawrysiak, joined Student Experience in January 2024, as the executive director of esports, overseeing all aspects of the esports program, including competitive teams, recreational programming and the facilities on campus. Joey also oversees all of the esports academic programming on campus which is a joint effort between Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Newhouse School of Public Communication. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Joey held professor and administrative roles in esports and sport management at Shenandoah University for 11 years. During this time he created one of the first collegiate esports programs in the country.
In addition to being a recognized expert in collegiate esports and education, he’s a sought-after speaker for topics of scholastic esports. Joey has been a regular presenter, educator and leader within the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD) and North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF). He was also recognized as the 2021-22 NACE Director of the Year. A three-time graduate of the University of Georgia, Joey earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management, a master’s degree in sport studies and a doctorate in sport management and policy.
Anne Lombard, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Student Engagement
Anne joined Syracuse University as the senior director of Student Engagement in Sept. 2023, before stepping into the role of executive director of Student Engagement in Aug. 2024. In this role, she has reporting oversight of unit leads in Student Engagement (student organizations and spaces) and Greek Life, and works to more closely integrate student involvement work between these important units. She also assumes oversight of all University policies governing space reservation and use, and student organization registration and operations that have been assigned to the Division, ensuring they are regularly evaluated, updated and administered.
Her more than three decades of higher education experience have focused on student learning, engagement and success at several other institutions including, most recently, at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse, where she served as Dean of Students and retired after more than 12 years of service. A Michigan native, Anne holds degrees from Ohio University (Ph.D., Higher Education), Michigan State University (M.A., Student Affairs Administration), and Western Michigan University (B.S., Public History and Anthropology). She enjoys living in the University neighborhood with her daughter, baking and reading, and is an avid Chicago Cubs fan.