Striving for success

Chatriand on care, community, starting his new role

University of Idaho Dean of Students Craig Chatriand said he enrolled in college to become a high school teacher and football coach — not fully expecting to graduate.

After graduating college himself, he chose a career path to help other students be successful, too.

Brandy Ely | Argonaut
UI Dean of Students Craig Chatriand works at his standing desk in his office in the Idaho Commons Monday.

“Helping students get the most of this college experience, it’s just critical to me,” Chatriand said. “I think going to college and getting a college degree is such a life-changing experience. I’m honored to be able to help students on the path to that.”

Chatriand began his new position as dean of students Jan. 2. He was promoted from associate dean after former Dean of Students Bruce Pitman retired after more than 40 years of service to UI.

“Bruce (Pitman) is such an iconic figure at the university, around the state and really around the entire region,” he said. “I’m going to strive to give everything I have to make the types of differences that he made, but I’m not going to try to do it the same way he did.”

Chatriand served as the associate dean of students since September 2012 and was the assistant director for student success for University Housing before that.

Before moving to UI, Chatriand was a residence hall director and worked in academic support services and institutional research at Iowa State University while completing his doctorate degree in education administration.

But he said his experience in helping students began before he had a college degree. As an undergraduate student at University of Montana Western, he first learned of his passion of student success as a resident assistant.

“I started learning about leadership, I started learning about community building, learning about helping people, and it really fit with what I wanted to be and what I think is important in the world,” he said.

Chatriand said during his time at Montana Western, he had a strong support system helped him believe he belonged in college and would stay to earn a degree. He now wants to pass his wisdom and experiences on to others, he said.

Chatriand said he does not think there will be any drastic changes made within the Dean of Students Office, but rather he would continue on the course Pitman set.

“I want to continue individualized care and concern or students,” Chatriand said. “That’s something I think our office has done well, and I want to continue that.”

Chatriand said he plans to continue to focus on campus safety.

“A lot of those issues around campus safety are going to be on the forefront of what we do,” he said. “That’s something Pitman was very passionate about and I am as well.”

Chatriand said his responsibilities would encompass many of the same concerns he previously handled, only now he has the chance to do more long-term work in student affairs.

He said he would like to add several student entities to his direct report, which updates Chatriand regularly of the current state of student affairs. He said he will focus on more campus-wide issues and events.

He said the crux of his career has been working with students, so much so that he brought two of his three daughters home to a residence hall apartment after their births.

Chatriand, his wife and children moved to Moscow almost five years ago, largely to be close to family and outdoor recreation, but also to join UI.

“As I saw what the university was doing, where it was trying to head, I thought this is something I want to be apart of,” he said. “I saw people who care about students. I saw people who were trying to put programs in place to help students be successful.”

Carmen Suarez, UI chief diversity officer, has worked with Chatriand over the years on diversity and Title IX issues. Suarez described him as smart, friendly and an advocate for students.

“I’ve watched him interact directly with students, and I can’t image a better dean of students, quite honestly,” Suarez said. “Craig (Chatriand) is outstanding at his work.”

Suarez said Chatriand stepped into the new role with poise and ease.

“He’s a very helpful and collaborative colleague — and that’s just gold,” she said. “I’m a cheerleader for team Chatriand.”

Over his career, Chatriand said he’s learned two key lessons that will help guide him in his new role: always choose compassion and never make assumptions.

“I think my experiences have taught me to look at students holistically — more than just an engineering major or more than just a student athlete,” he said.

Chatriand said while he cannot emulate Pitman’s achievements and model for accomplishing things, he will find his own way.

“I’m going to out my own touch on it,” Chatriand said. “I hope that students will respond as positively to me as they did respond to Bruce for so many years.”

Katelyn Hilsenbeck can be reached at [email protected]