Thomas L. Hill became Iowa State’s Vice President for Student Affairs on August 1, 1997, and was named Senior Vice President for Student Affairs in June 2012. He came to Iowa State from the University of Florida, where he had been Dean for Student Services. In that position, he worked with former ISU Dean of Students Art Sandeen, then Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida. Hill sees his role as the university’s senior student affairs officer in terms that Sandeen outlined: the leader of the Division of Student Affairs, acting as “keeper of the mission and vision,” chief manager of the division’s personnel and resources, a member of the university’s leadership/management team, mediator among students, student groups (and sometimes between administrators and students), and an educator. Prior to accepting the position at Florida, Dr. Hill had served as Assistant Athletic Director for Student Life, first at Tulane University and later at the University of Oklahoma.
Hill is active in the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Council on Student Affairs, National Vice Presidents’ Group, Big XII Senior Student Affairs Officers Group, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), NCAA Committee on Infractions, Special Olympics Iowa Board, and serves as President of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame.
Hill received a B.S.E. in Physical Education from Arkansas State University in 1972 and an M.S. in Counselor Education from C.W. Post- Long Island University in 1976. He earned his PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Florida and has written articles on student-athlete development and minority identity development.
Before pursuing a career in higher education, Tom Hill excelled on athletic fields and earned a number of honors. He was twice named Arkansas Amateur Athlete of the Year, and he was ultimately inducted into both the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He competed in the 110-meter high hurdles competition in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, winning the Bronze Medal.
Tom Hill grew up in New Orleans, one of five sons of the late Mattie Hill. She is now honored by a scholarship fund, administered by Hill, which he set up with his brothers. He and his wife, Billye, have two sons, Thomas and Lamont, a daughter-in-law, Carol, and two grandsons, Alexander and Nicholas.