Sheilah Shaw Horton has been appointed Wellesley College’s vice president and dean of students. She will begin her new role at Wellesley on July 3, 2017, the start of the 2017 academic year.
According to Paula A. Johnson, president of Wellesley College, Horton’s strong record as a leader, practitioner and an exceptional administrator make her the ideal person to “lead and inspire the College as we reimagine student life at Wellesley for the 21st century.” Johnson said. “Sheilah’s thorough understanding of contemporary issues in student affairs, together with her commitment to student wellness and to advancing equity, and her great enthusiasm for Wellesley College, make her the right person to join my Senior Leadership team and lead the College’s Student Life team.”
Horton is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Wellesley community, where her “passion for developing student leaders — especially women leaders — is highly consistent with the core mission of the institution.” She said, “I look forward to partnering with President Johnson and the senior leadership team, my student affairs colleagues, the world-renowned faculty and especially the bright and engaged students at this exciting time in the history of the school.”
Horton currently is in her sixth year at Loyola University Maryland, where she is vice president of student development and dean of students. She leads 15 Loyola departments that provide a wide array of programs and services designed to enhance students’ academic and personal success.
Before joining Loyola, Horton spent 25 years at Boston College, where she held a number of key positions with increasing leadership responsibilities, including serving as associate vice president and dean of students from 2008 to 2011.
Horton holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Boston College. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate students. She also is a trustee of her alma mater, Emmanuel College, which was a liberal arts college for women at the time she attended.
