UNE dean of students named to 2024 Top Women Leaders of Maine list
Jennifer DeBurro, Ed.D. ’24, vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students at the University of New England, has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Maine for 2024 by Women We Admire, a membership organization comprised of some of the most accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada.
The annual list highlights outstanding female leaders who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities across various sectors in the state, the organization said in its announcement.
“I am beyond grateful to be recognized among Maine’s top women leaders,” said DeBurro, who represents one of two women in higher education recognized by the organization she joined in 2023. “It was completely unexpected, and yet affirming, to have been named to this list for doing the work to which I am so passionately committed. It is my privilege to be a part of the educational journey of UNE’s students, where I get to empower generations of learners and future change-makers.”
DeBurro has more than two decades of experience in higher education and has been a driving force in student affairs at UNE since 2005. In her current role, which she assumed in 2021, she oversees critical student-centered units, including Campus Center Operations and Outdoor Recreation, the Counseling Center, Graduate and Professional Student Affairs, Housing and Residential/Commuter Life, Student Access, Student Engagement, Student Resolutions, and the Student Health centers.
Under DeBurro’s leadership, the division has transformed its approach to student mental health and wellbeing. The focus, DeBurro said, has shifted from a crisis-oriented narrative to one emphasizing students’ resilience and potential. New programs include online platforms that feature peer support and self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy tools, supported by a reorganized division that enhances coordination and assessment of these initiatives.
“At UNE, we are moving the needle in a direction that promotes not just student wellbeing, but their thriving, which serves to better prepare them for the careers they’ll enter into and in the lives they’ll lead after graduation,” DeBurro said.
“We recognize that these young people have lots of potential and will be the future of the industries they step into,” she added. “It’s incumbent upon us to create programming that elevates and further supports them so that our students really stand out in the industries they enter.”
DeBurro’s leadership extends beyond campus boundaries, having served on the national board as the Region I director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators — Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and as the organization’s national volunteer coordinator.
A sought-after speaker and mentor, DeBurro has presented at regional and national conferences and participated in panel discussions. Her expertise has been recognized in prominent publications such as the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Education, and her work has been featured by the Education Advisory Board.
As a first-generation college student herself, DeBurro is committed to creating an empowering environment for students, ensuring that a comprehensive system of support is accessible for all.
She holds a bachelor’s in sociology from Assumption College, an M.Ed. from Suffolk University, and an Ed.D. from the University of New England.