January 12, 2005

Boise State Dean of Students Wins National Award

Margie Van Vooren, Boise State University dean of students, has won the Fred Turner Award for Outstanding Service to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Van Vooren was chosen from 16 nationwide nominees for the award, the most prestigious given by the 9,000-member organization of student affairs administrators in higher education. She will receive the award at the NASPA conference in Tampa, Fla., in March.   Van Vooren, who has worked for Boise State’s department of student affairs for 20 years, advanced to national consideration after winning the Region V award. In a letter announcing the regional award, she was noted for her gentle but loving persistence in helping the region grow and for going out of her way to mentor new members of NASPA and young professionals throughout the region.   Named for one of NASPA’s most distinguished past presidents, the award honors a NASPA member who has demonstrated continuous NASPA membership for 10 or more years and served in a leadership role at the state, regional or national level.   Van Vooren has served on the Region V Advisory Board for decades and is the institutional memory of the region, which comprises the Pacific Northwest (including Alaska, and British Columbia and Alberta, Canada). She has served as the Idaho State Coordinator, chair of the Disability Concerns Network and conference chair of the 1995 Western Regional Conference in Salt Lake City.   “This award is truly a recognition of Margie’s years and years of outstanding service to the profession and to the organization,” said Peg Blake, Boise State’s vice president of student affairs. “Her selection is an incredible honor.”   -30-   Contact: Peg Blake, Boise State Student Affairs, (208) 426-2948, pblake@boisestate.edu Media Contact: Anna Fritz, communications and marketing, (208) 426-1577, afritz@boisestate.edu