Meet Your New Leaders of Student Affairs, Bearcats!
This summer saw a meaningful leadership transition at McKendree University as the Office of Student Affairs welcomed two familiar faces into new roles. Following the retirement of Dr. Joni Bastian, the university’s longtime vice president of Student Affairs, McKendree is now proud to announce the appointment of Jenni Miller ’04, M.A.Ed. ’07 as the new vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and Calvin Wertman as the new assistant vice president for student affairs.
Both Jenni and Calvin are no strangers to the Bearcat family. With years of dedicated service, demonstrated leadership, and a deep care and understanding of the student experience, these two bring both continuity and renewed energy to the forefront of student affairs.
Jenni Miller: A Full-Circle Journey in Student-Centered Success
For Jenni, the new vice president for student affairs and dean of students, McKendree isn’t just a workplace: it’s a place that holds a special place in her heart. Her journey began when she attended McKendree as a student, attaining both her undergraduate and master’s in education degree here. Over the years, she has served in various professional capacities; in her most recent role as assistant vice president for student affairs, she worked closely with students and other colleagues on campus to develop programs that bolstered engagement and success, which has been instrumental in shaping her approach to this new leadership position.
“It helped me better understand the needs of our student body and gave me valuable insight into how we can create a student-centered environment – insight that I’m excited to bring into my new role,” she said.
Jenni has several responsibilities in her new roles as vice president, including shaping strategic direction, enhancing student engagement and retention, leading Title IX efforts, guiding a broad range of student services, and much more.
Looking ahead, she’s especially focused on honoring McKendree’s rich traditions while cultivating a future-focused campus culture for everyone.
“We’re at a powerful moment where innovation in student support, equity, and engagement can truly elevate our campus culture,” Jenni noted. “I’m excited to work with students to co-create programs and initiatives that matter to them – and to watch those ideas take root and flourish.”
Calvin Wertman: A Supportive Leader with a Heart for Students
Joining Jenni is Calvin Wertman, who previously served as McKendree’s director of residence life and student conduct, as he fills the role of assistant vice president for student affairs.
When Calvin joined McKendree in 2018, he brought with him nine years of experience in housing operations, conduct processes, and crisis response from prior institutions. This experience has given him a 360-degree view of our Bearcats’ needs – academic, residential, and personal.
“Those experiences shaped how I approach this new role,” Calvin said. “My primary goal in my first year is to listen first. There’s no shortage of ideas on this campus, and I want to amplify voices that may have been overlooked.”
In his new role, Calvin plans to strengthen the office’s internal operations, making systems more consistent, data-informed, and student-centered. He also looks to build stronger bridges between engagement and belonging, especially for commuter, transfer, and returning students.
“I want Student Affairs to be not just a service, but a connector,” he explained.
Calvin is also focused on supporting Jenni’s leadership and ensuring the office’s strategic goals translate into tangible action.
“Jenni leads with heart and clear vision,” he said. “I see my role as helping operationalize that vision – clarifying procedures, aligning efforts across departments, and asking the hard questions about how we allocate time, energy, and resources. We both believe in creating systems that serve students with equity, consistency, and care.”
A Dynamic Duo Aiming to Enhance the Student Experience
For both Jenni and Calvin, leadership in Student Affairs is more than a job: it’s a calling steeped in purpose, shaped by empathy, and guided by believing in our students’ potential.
“Many students arrive carrying more than what fits in a backpack,” Calvin said. “Helping them navigate that with dignity and growth is why I do this work. I had mentors who saw potential in me before I saw it in myself, and I try to pay it forward.”
For Jenni, it’s helping students find where they belong at McKendree that motivates her.
“It’s the small moments – the ‘a-ha’ breakthroughs, the student who discovers their voice, or the one who finally feels like they belong,” she said. “Helping students find their place at McKendree is incredibly meaningful to me, because I remember what it felt like to find mine here. My own experience as a student shaped who I am today, and I want every student to have that same chance – to feel supported, connected, and proud of their time at this university. Their growth, resilience, and potential fuel my passion for this work every day.”
As McKendree looks ahead to its bicentennial, Jenni and Calvin aim to be both visionary and grounded, celebrating McKendree’s longstanding values while being bold enough to imagine what the next 200 years may hold. And, of course, at the front of it all are our students, the ones whom this team works for to ensure they each have a chance to thrive, both now and in the years to come.
