Natasha Jeter
OXFORD, Miss. – An administrator at Winston-Salem State University soon will be the new assistant vice chancellor for wellness and student success at the University of Mississippi.
Natasha H. Jeter, assistant dean of health, wellness and prevention services at WSSU, begins her new position Aug. 1. With more than 13 years of professional experience in higher education administration, the native Mississippian is also a certified health education specialist and a certified health coach.
“As a native Mississippian, I wanted to return to my home state, but only for the right organization and opportunity,” said Jeter, who holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Walden University, respectively. “The AVC position at Ole Miss was the right position and the right organization.”
Jeter’s passion for student health and wellness was forged in the fires of her undergraduate years at UNC-Greensboro. While earning her bachelor’s degree in biology there, she discovered her research and teaching interests included minority health disparities, interpersonal violence prevention, suicide and substance abuse prevention, and eating disorders.
“Dr. Jeter’s exceptional background in public and college health positions us to achieve the vision of fully integrating student wellness and success initiatives,” said Brandi Hephner LaBanc, UM vice chancellor for student affairs. “Her direct experiences and passion for enhancing holistic individual wellness will improve our resources and enhance student success overall.
“Her vision is informed by years of professional practice, but is fueled by a commitment to making the college experience healthier and successful.”
After accepting her new position, Jeter said she immediately began thinking about the Ole Miss wellness and student success team, and how she would work with them to enhance the great work that was already being done in wellness and student success at the university.
“Ultimately the goals are to determine strategies for providing transformative wellness and student success experiences for all UM constituents,” she said. “By providing opportunities for constituents to share thoughts and ideas around current areas of success and areas of challenge, we will work together to accomplish our objectives.”
Jeter said some of her short- and long-term goals in the position include creating a health and well-being task force and developing a strategic plan around wellness and student success.
Jeter comes with a proven track record of successful administrative leadership and teaching experience. At WSSU, she formerly served as director of first-year experience, special assistant to the vice chancellor and deputy Title IX coordinator, and director of student development.
She also was the principal investigator and grant university liaison for a SAMHSA substance abuse and prevention services grant and a public health educator.
“I value relationships and believe that strong partnerships are key to building successful organizations,” Jeter said. “I am very much interested in meeting and developing relationships with the different constituents on the campus and in the community.”
Jeter’s professional associations include the National Association Student Personnel Administration, American College Health Association, American Psychological Health Association and National Society of Leadership and Success.
Honors and awards she has received include the Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University MLK Building the Dream Award, the Women’s History Month RAMS Girls Rock Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentorship, WSSU’s Chancellor’s Achievement Award for planning and implementation and social justice change agent.