Mount Mary welcomes Vice President for Student Affairs Keri Alioto

Keri joins Mount Mary in August 2020 after nineteen years at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.

She most recently served as Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Student Success, having previously created the position of Dean of Student Success and Retention in the Office of the Provost. She joined the college in 2001 as Director of Student Activities and Organizations.

Keri is a creator and visionary leader. At Franklin she created the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Center for Student Involvement and HamOne, a one-stop student success and academic support environment occupying the first floor of the college’s historic library. She also led the efforts for re-imagining the entire co-curricular experience focusing on sense of belonging and initiating traditions that became a cornerstone of the student experience. Her creative impulses and her broad experience brought significant experience to the college’s most recent strategic planning process, which led to her outstanding leadership in the most comprehensive curricular reform in the College’s history. 

At Franklin, Keri most recently managed the college’s student involvement team and center for student success and served as the chief retention officer. Over her 19 year career there, she also had varied responsibilities with residence life, conduct, Greek life, student organizations, student government, crisis response, casework, Title IX, first-year advising, new student programs, equity and inclusion and taught an immersive term course to Uganda in the leadership department.

Keri earned the Bachelor of Arts degree (journalism and Spanish) from Ball State University and the Master of Science degree (student affairs administration) from Indiana University. She is enrolled in Northern Illinois University’s executive Doctor of Education Program in higher education. She is also a watercolor artist and has been involved in competitive dog sports with her golden retrievers.

Keri is mission and values-driven and puts students at the heart of her work. She is thrilled to be joining Mount Mary – a university that values competence, community, compassion and commitment.