Dean of Student Advocacy Office

At VCU, Dr. Willis serves as the Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Advocacy within the Division for Student Affairs. He is responsible for leading and supervising the following units: Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, Hazing Prevention, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Family Programs, and our brand-new Office of Student Advocacy.

The Dean of Student Advocacy Office supports the overarching mission of the Division for Student Affairs to foster students’ intellectual, social, emotional, cultural, and personal growth toward their full potential. We are also dedicated to a high level of approachability, visibility and responsiveness. The Dean of Students is a resource for all undergraduate, graduate and professional students at VCU.

Dr. Willis brings nearly 15 years of higher education experience, marked by his expertise in behavioral intervention, student conduct, student advocacy, and Title IX Compliance. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a keen understanding of the intricacies of student affairs, driving positive change and innovation in various roles.

Please follow the Division for Student Affairs on the following social media platforms:
Twitter. @VCUdsa
Instagram: @vcudsa

Go Rams!

Dr. Lynanne Jamison leads the Office of Student Advocacy with unwavering dedication. Her passion for empowering students and promoting equitable practices drives the office's mission forward. Lynanne specializes in supporting students in the following areas: academic concerns; complaints/grievances; policy/procedure/process questions; and complex situations involving multiple concerns.

When she’s not spending time with VCU students and families, you’ll find her doing all things local - eating at RVA’s yummiest restaurants, thrifting and antiquing, exploring in and around the James River, and taking in the city’s rich art, music and theater scene. Ask her about her favorite spots!

Lynanne is a proud Ram after receiving her Doctorate of Education in Leadership at VCU. She also holds a Master of Science in College Student Personnel from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Christopher Newport University where she is actively involved as an alumna. 

Karen Belanger, Ed.D., has worked in student affairs for 30 years; the 2024-25 academic year marks her twentieth year at VCU. Currently, Dr. Belanger serves as the Assistant Dean and Director for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity administering the student conduct process for the university. Since arriving at VCU as the inaugural director in this office, Dr. Belanger has grown the responsibilities of the office from the administration of one policy to the development and administration of three policies; as she demonstrated the ability to develop, coordinate, and implement compliant, effective, and efficient processes. The office has also grown from one to six full-time professional staff to meet these additional requirements. 

Dr. Belanger has demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse university environment. She participated on the Inclusive Learning Council and as a member of the Division of Student Affairs Diversity Committee. Dr. Belanger also completed the VCU Recruitment Inclusive Champions Program and continues to work with this program to develop recruitment and selection processes that garner diverse and inclusive candidate pools. Most recently, she completed the VCU School of Education’s Becoming an Antiracist Educator Series I (a semester-long program). Finally, her Ed.D. program focused on dismantling racial disproportionality in higher education – her personal interests in higher education include examining gender pay inequity, zero-tolerance discipline policies, and legal issues stemming from due process violations. In her role as Assistant Dean and Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, she has been intentional in her efforts to ensure that the office and its processes offer accessible and equitable experiences for students. To this end, Student Conduct and Academic Integrity strives to recruit staff and volunteers that reflect the diversity of the university community. Dr. Belanger introduced bias mitigation training for the Student Conduct Board and the Honor Council, and continues to work with her colleagues to update and improve these sessions. Finally, Dr. Belanger seeks to provide a process that balances accountability and consistency with restorative principles and student success.       

Dr. Belanger received her Ed.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Leadership, her MS from Boston University in Corporate Public Relations, and her BA from the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, Dr. Belanger was a Resident Assistant for three years, after working several years as a social worker, she returned to higher education as a hall director at Boston University. Before she arrived at VCU, Dr. Belanger held multiple positions at Boston University, in Residential Life and Housing, and Judicial Affairs, over her 10 years there.     

Karen is also a devoted aunt, a lifelong fan of the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox, a cookbook collector, and a lover of 1980s music. 

As the Assistant Dean of Students, Rachael supports the VCU community by coordinating the Threat Assessment Team, assisting with university policy and procedure review, and spearheading campus-wide hazing prevention efforts.  She partners with many offices across campus to help create a safe and informed university community.  Rachael brings experience in student conduct, fraternity and sorority life, and study abroad student life management to her role here at VCU.