Advancing Student Success: Embry-Riddle Names Two New Student Affairs Leaders
To further advance student excellence, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has named two new leaders in Student Affairs at the Daytona Beach Campus.
Retired Air Force Colonel W.R. Alan Dayton has been named Associate Vice President for Student Success, a newly formed role that will provide strategic direction, oversight and management of the divisions of the Dean of Students and the Dean of Student Support at the Daytona Beach Campus and Dual Enrollment. He will assume his role on Nov. 1.
Theresa Crichfield, Ed.D, has been named Dean of Students for the Daytona Beach Campus, a role that plays an essential part in shaping the student experience at Embry-Riddle. The Dean of Students oversees Housing & Residential Life, Student Affairs & Civic Engagement, the Counseling Center, Health Services, the Fitness Center, the Center for Faith and Spirituality, Intramural Sports, Student Engagement, Organizations, and Student Union activities. Crichfield will assume her role on Nov. 18.
Newly Formed Associate Vice President of Student Success
Col. Dayton is a 29-year U.S. Air Force veteran with experience leading and building high-performance teams, overseeing complex organizational cultures and streamlining internal processes.
Since 2021, he has served as the Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 157, for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the crosstown students of Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona State College, Stetson University and the University of Central Florida – Daytona Beach Campus. Detachment 157 is the second-largest Air Force program out of 145 units in the nation. In this critical role, he spent significant time directly coaching and mentoring Embry-Riddle ROTC cadets and students to develop and hone crucial skills for careers in industry, government agencies and the military. With a deliberate emphasis on teaching young leaders to serve the organizations they lead, Embry-Riddle's detachment became the No. 1 unit in the Southeast region for two consecutive years.
As demonstrated by this experience, Dayton has a strong focus on putting others first, and his leadership support and change-management experience will be vital as he steps into this new role leading student-centric departments, including the Daytona Beach Dean of Students office, Dean to Student Support office and related functions.
Prior to this role, he commanded at the squadron and group levels and served in a variety of staff assignments, including the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He most recently commanded the 55th Mission Support Group, where he led over 1,670 personnel supporting 7.5 million square feet of facilities valued at $9 billion. The group provided mobility processing to over 3,000 deployed personnel per year and services to 57,000 active duty, dependent and retired personnel.
Dayton has had multiple operational deployments, flying worldwide reconnaissance missions, as well as joint combat assignments with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. He also served as an Air Force Presidential Advance Agent and an Air Force Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
“Embry-Riddle has an ironclad reputation for growing leaders in aviation and aerospace careers,” said Dayton. “After witnessing first-hand the infectious energy and dedication to this mission from the faculty, staff and students over the last three years, I am elated and humbled to join the Eagle team, and look forward to all we can achieve together.”
Dean of Students for Daytona Beach
Crichfield brings nearly 20 years of academic leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of Students for the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, where she provided student co-curricular leadership and coordination, and served as the division’s crisis manager. Additionally, in this role, Crichfield supported over 100 students directly impacted by the wildfires in Lahaina and Kula on Maui, assuming responsibility for emergency aid, temporary housing and academic continuity.
Prior to her role in Hawaii, Crichfield served as Dean of Students for Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, where she was responsible for the vision and oversight to support overall student success and retention. While at Lynn, Crichfield was pivotal in the design of the Snyder Center for Health and Wellness, a facility providing a holistic wellness approach by bringing together the university’s fitness, health, counseling and wellness services under one roof with state-of-the-art fitness spaces, multi-faceted health services, spiritual services, and individual and group counseling support.
Crichfield’s vast experience also includes serving in roles of increasing responsibility in student life organizations at both Lynn University and St. John’s University in Staten Island, New York.
“I am honored and excited to join the Embry-Riddle community and contribute to the university’s holistic approach to student development and success,” Crichfield said. “In collaboration with university leadership, the Student Affairs team and colleagues across campus, I look forward to enhancing the student experience through initiatives that promote academic achievement, out-of-class engagement, and physical and mental well-being. Together, we will ensure that students are empowered with the skills, resources and support they need to thrive, both during their time at Embry-Riddle and beyond.”
According to Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing & Student Affairs Dr. Jason Ruckert, “We are thrilled to welcome both Col. Dayton and Dr. Crichfield to their roles. Their diverse experience in higher education and extensive backgrounds will provide Embry-Riddle students with the support, engagement and guidance they need to be successful here and in the future.”
Posted In: Institutional News