A Wright State administrator was recognized for his service to the field of student conduct by the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA).
Gary Dickstein, vice president of student affairs at Wright State, received ASCA’s Donald D. Gehring Award, the most prestigious honor presented by the association. He accepted the award at ASCA’s annual national conference in Jacksonville, Fla., on Feb. 9.
The award recognizes a student conduct professional who has contributed significantly to their campus, the field and professional organizations, according to a press release.
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“I’m really humbled and [I] appreciate immensely that people have taken notice and appreciate the work that I’ve tried to do within a very large part of my professional life,” Dickstein said.
ASCA serves as the leading voice to promote the highest standards of the student conduct profession, according to its website. The association was founded by Donald D. Gehring in 1986.
“[ASCA] really prides itself on being a place where people can come to learn [the] best practices related to the student conduct profession [and] learn how to best meet the needs of the students that are on our campuses,” said Jennifer Waller, executive director of ASCA.
Dickstein is a former president of the association, member of its board and creator of its Raymond H. Goldstone Foundation. He has presented on a variety of student conduct administration topics including threat assessment, behavioral intervention teams, codes of student conduct, mental health and student and Greek organizations, according to a press release.
Waller praised Dickstein for his time and dedication to the association.“Dr. Dickstein is definitely somebody who has given a lot of time, energy and effort into ASCA,” Waller said. “He is somebody who has been tremendously committed to ASCA and the work that we do.”
Jeff Stefancic, associate dean of students at Purdue University, commended Dickstein in his nominating letter for the Donald D. Gehring Award.
“Gary has been active throughout his career in promoting equity and diversity, as well as demonstrating a commitment to it,” Stefancic said in a press release. “Some of this is most evident in his work in the Dayton, Ohio, community, where Gary has served on task forces associated with preventing sexual violence and harassment at his children’s high school [and] as a volunteer at the Heal Dayton Free Clinic.”
Dickstein said that when he was a sophomore in college, a mentor suggested that he pursue a career in student conduct.
“I’ve never left university life since,” Dickstein said. “I’ve got zero regrets about that career choice.”
Dickstein holds 30 years of experience in student conduct administration and 20 years as a member of ASCA. He also started the first office of ASCA on Wright State’s campus.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Michigan University, Dickstein worked in student affairs at Sam Houston State University for two years and for three years at San Diego State University, according to a press release.
Dickstein then joined Wright State University as manager of The Village apartments and Greek Life advisor. While at Wright State, Dickstein earned his master’s degree in higher education administration.
He went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy with an emphasis on higher education administration from Ohio University.
“We all are here and work at college campuses to help students be successful and make it to the finish line, which is graduation,” Dickstein said. “That’s why I continue to do the work that we do.”
