Teamwork and collaboration are two words vice president for student affairs Dan Nadler uses often in reference to work and his hopes for Eastern.

Nadler began his position on August 1, 2005 and since then many new programs have been implemented, but Nadler does not take full credit.

“From my perspective, the things that we do is as a team,” he said. “Everything we do has an impact on something else.”

And by team, Nadler includes the entire university, which he is glad to be collaborating with.

“Vice president Nadler has been a strong supporter of finding meaningful connections between the work of the student affairs professionals and the work of the academic affairs division,” said vice president for academic affairs Blair Lord in the July 20 edition of the Daily Eastern News.

With every new program and idea, Nadler makes sure to think about student’s interest and taking Eastern to the next level.

“By the end of the fall semester, he was beginning to implement new programs for the campus,” said President Lou Hencken in the same July 20 article. “I am pleased, with the new programs and ideas.”

“Food for Thought” was just one of the programs that Nadler helped bring to Eastern. This will be the program’s second year, and it brings the deans, vice presidents, president and students together by serving a late night snack for students the night before finals.

It has gone really well and it is good to have that interaction with students, Nadler said.

Also with students in mind, Nadler helped collect funds to bring more staff to the counseling center.

“He worked tirelessly last fall semester to relocate additional dollars so that additional staff could be hired,” Hencken said in the previous Daily Eastern News article.

Nadler said there was a spike in students using the center and he wanted to avoid backlog and a waiting list.

“I feel like we are better prepared to help students,” he said.

Also to better prepare students, Nadler has helped create Prowl, which has helped students move in and get acquainted with Eastern.

Nadler describes Prowl as “unique and cutting edge” and with the program during the first six weeks each day has a theme. Every Thursday is spirit day and other days included volunteer day and personal wellness.

Other work Nadler has given assistance to include renovations to housing and dinning and the Martin Luther King University Union.

With housing and dinning, a 10-year plan is in place to install sprinkler systems, update rooms and allow students to personalize their rooms.

To dinning, a seven-meal plan with no additional cost has been added and security cameras have been added to 7th Street Underground and the Union vending lounge. Improvements have also been made to the Student Recreation Center that include equipment, lighting, security cameras and painting.

For the future, plans are in the works about a new textbook rental center to be located on Edgar drive. This is something Nadler and others are excited about because it will be an improvement because it will no longer be in an residence hall and operate on three levels.

“When you have big heavy books that’s not a desirable situation,” Nadler said.

They will also look at automation in bringing scanners and other technology to make renting more efficient.

Another new program to be implemented in this fall is a Rape Aggression Defense Program in which 10 staff and students have been trained to serve as facilitators.

With every new program implemented, Nadler always has three things in mind: learning, serving and leading. To him, these are three things that he wishes every student to gain while at Eastern.

“Just about everything we do relates back to learning and the learning environment,” he said.

And with serving, Nadler thinks that it is important for students to do community service whether it’s given a local, state or nationwide level.

Nadler said becoming a leader in school, work and the neighborhood is also important.

Nadler has enjoyed his first year at Eastern and has become fond of the school and community.

“I like the intimate environment we have,” he said. “I really like the fact that our students care.”

Upon moving from New Orleans, where he worked as an assistant vice president for student affairs at Tulane University for 12 years, to Charleston, Nadler brought along his family.

“We are fortunate as a family to be accepted,” he said. “It’s a great family oriented community.”

Nadler appreciates that his work as vice president for student affairs has blended well with his personal life as a husband and father.

“When you do this kind of job, it’s never about yourself,” he said. “For me, it has been an incredible blending.”