Art Munin began as assistant vice president and Dean of Students at Illinois State in early August. Having been on campus for only a month, Munin already feels “so grateful for being welcomed into the Redbird family. People from across the institution have been exceedingly generous with their time, well wishes, and advice in beginning this new journey.”
Munin came to Illinois State from DePaul University, where he served as the Dean of Students. He has worked extensively with student advocacy, crisis response, health promotion and wellness, diversity education, retention and conduct. He also served as an adjunct professor in the counseling program and liberal studies program at DePaul. During his time there, Munin also taught at Loyola University Chicago’s higher education program, teaching courses on social justice and mental health issues in higher education.
The author of Color by Number: Understanding Racism through Facts and Stats on Children, Munin has also served as a consultant for higher education institutions, nonprofits, and municipalities all over the country. His knowledge on social justice issues and ability to present on such topics will serve as a great resource to the Dean of Students Office and the entire campus.
Munin has an inspiring story to share with students about where he started and the guidance he received to get where he is today. Throughout his journey in higher education, he earned a Ph.D. in higher education and M.Ed. in community counseling at Loyola University Chicago, a M.A. in multicultural communication at DePaul University, and a B.A. in psychology from Eastern Illinois University. It was during his time as a graduate hall director at Loyola that he became “hooked on Student Affairs,” as he “witnessed the transformative effect leadership and involvement can have on a student when they are substantively engaged.”
It is clear that Munin has a passion for working with students, especially those at Illinois State.
“I love the opportunity to work with students who come from similar backgrounds as I do. I grew up in the city on the south side of Chicago. I am a first-generation college student, and I know the challenges many students have in being successful in college. I value the opportunity to serve in this capacity as an advocate, educator, administrator, and mentor.”
As a mentor, his first piece of advice is “to try something new, be something new, and think something new. Challenge yourself to do something that pushes you out of your comfort zone at least once a month. Whether it is meeting with a new RSO, going to a musical performance, or attending a speaker series on campus, everything is here for the taking. You just have to step forward.”
