Dean Hoke: “Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.
Kent: We have joining us today, Dr. Wes Brooks, who serves as Vice President and Dean of Student Life at Augustana College, where he leads a wide portfolio supporting student success, including residential life, athletics, counseling services, public safety, and campus engagement. Known for his energetic, student-centered leadership style, Wes plays a key role in shaping campus culture and advancing holistic student development.
Before joining Augustana, he held leadership roles at Iowa Wesleyan University, Wartburg College, and Grand View University—even spending time early in his career as an assistant men’s basketball coach.
Wes earned his bachelor’s degree from Grand View and both his master’s and Ph.D. in higher education from Iowa State University. Outside of work, he enjoys family time, coaching youth sports, golf, and theater—bringing that same enthusiasm into everything he does on campus
Question 1: Career Path and Role
Dean: Wes, how did you enter the field of student life, and what drew you to this work?
Follow-Up: For listeners who may not fully understand the scope of the position, how would you describe what a Vice President for Student Life does at a college like Augustana?
Question 2: Mental Health
Kent: Across higher education, we keep hearing that student mental health needs have grown significantly. From where you sit at a small college like Augustana, what has changed the most — and how has that reshaped the work of Student Life?
Follow-Up: When students arrive at a small college, what’s one challenge that catches both the students and their parents by surprise — something they rarely anticipate going in?
Question 3: Retention Role
Dean: Wes, At many small private colleges, persistence isn’t driven only by academics — it’s closely connected to belonging and engagement. From your perspective, how does your division influence whether students stay and succeed?
Follow-up: Is there a point in that first semester when you can usually sense whether a student is likely to persist — and what signals do you watch for?
Question 4: Misconception About Student Life
Kent: If you had to name the single biggest misconception about Student Life at small colleges, what would it be?
Possible Follow-Up - What’s something your team does every day that most faculty, administrators, or trustees never see?
Question 5: Sector-Wide Challenge
Dean: What’s one student-life challenge today that you think higher education as a whole still hasn’t figured out how to solve?
Question 6: Future
Kent: Looking ahead five years, how do you see the role of student life — and your own position — evolving as colleges continue to face enrollment, financial, and student-experience pressures?
Closing
Dean: Wes, thank you for joining us today and for giving our listeners such a clear look at how student life at Augustana supports students’ well-being, belonging, and long-term success.
For those listening or viewing, if you'd like to learn more about Small College America, visit our website at www.smallcollegeamerica.net, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover. Also, we encourage you to subscribe to the show via YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast device. This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Edu Alliance Group — a higher education consulting firm that champions small colleges and the communities they serve.
On behalf of our guest, Wes Brooks, my co-host Kent Barnds, and I, thank you for joining us.