President La Jerne Cornish announced on April 4th that Stanley Bazile is set to assume the role of vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Life at Ithaca College, commencing on June 10th.
In his new capacity, Bazile will oversee the guidance and strategic vision for both professional staff and student employees, aiming to enrich student engagement, leadership, and overall success. Additionally, he will play a pivotal role in fostering collaborative relationships with both curricular and co-curricular community partners. Working closely with Provost Melanie Stein and Kirra Franzese, the associate vice president and chief human resources officer, Bazile will actively contribute to advancing the college’s objectives of equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
With a robust background as a higher education scholar-practitioner spanning over 25 years, Bazile brings a wealth of experience from institutions such as CUNY-Lehman College, CUNY-Kingsborough Community College, St. John’s University, Cumberland County College, and Penn State University. He further honed his expertise as a doctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed executive leadership programs at both Harvard University and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
During his tenure at St. Francis, Bazile successfully implemented strategies to proactively address student and campus needs, effectively bridging the achievement gap between minority and non-marginalized student populations. His leadership was instrumental in guiding St. Francis back to a sense of normalcy following a prolonged period of remote learning amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reflecting on his approach, Bazile emphasized the importance of recognizing each individual’s unique life journey, understanding the daily realities students face, and contextualizing these experiences within the college community setting.
Bazile, an alumnus of Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Social Work, furthered his education with a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Penn State University. He will succeed Bonnie Prunty, who has diligently served as the vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Life for the past two years. Prunty, a longstanding member of the college community since 1988, is set to retire at the conclusion of Spring 2024, as confirmed in President Cornish’s communication.
Expressing her confidence in Bazile’s capabilities, Prunty conveyed her optimism for the future under his leadership, highlighting his potential to drive further success in cultivating enriching and positive student experiences at Ithaca College.
In response to the announcement, Prunty shared her sentiments with The Ithacan, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside students and colleagues at Ithaca College for the past 36 years.