Presenter Bio - Phil Covington

Phil Covington is Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Covington holds an EdD in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Nebraska and both a Master of Science in Counseling and Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Fort Hays State University.

In his role as Associate Vice Chancellor at UNMC, Covington serves as the Senior Student Affairs Officer reporting to the UNMC Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, with leadership and supervisory responsibilities for units serving students across all seven colleges and five campuses. His role includes supporting all the colleges, working closely with the Student Services and Academic Affairs leadership in each.

Covington has more than 25 years of experience as a leader in Student Affairs and Enrollment Services at seven public universities in five different states with student enrollments ranging in size from 1400 to nearly 16,000. He is skilled at building relationships across the institution that allow for shared accomplishment of strategic goals and experienced in leveraging technology to facilitate efficiencies that allow personnel to focus time more appropriately on engagement with students, faculty, staff, and external constituents. His work includes a heavy focus on coaching students through experiences that help them achieve their educational goals and he is driven by partnering with colleagues to see the institution achieve its mission.

Covington was previously Senior Director of Student Life and Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Associate Dean of Students at the University of South Dakota, Dean of Students at Southern Arkansas University, and Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Arkansas Tech University.

Covington has also served numerous professional associations in leadership roles, including NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the Association for Student Conduct Administration, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, and the Kansas Student Affairs Conference. Additionally, he is collaborating with colleagues across the country to form a network of Student Affairs leaders working in academic health centers.

In alignment with his top Gallup strength as a Developer, Covington provides regular coaching and mentoring to staff and colleagues and contributes regularly to institutional professional development offerings as a speaker and facilitator.