Jan. 28, 2011
The new interim director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Shawnee State University isn't new to the area. Christopher Shaffer grew up in Scioto County and graduated from Clay High School.
He comes to SSU from the Governor's Office of Appalachia working as a program manager and state alternate for the state of Ohio to the Appalachian Regional Commission. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Before that he was operations manager in the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives working on budget, outreach, and programmatic operations.
"What excites me about the job that it utilizes a lot of my skills that I have picked up professionally," Shaffer said. "Shawnee State is very well thought of throughout the state and there's a sense that great things are happening here."
Shaffer came to Shawnee State when he was in pre-school taking enrichment courses in Massie Hall, and he was in different programs during the summer almost every year until he was about 14 years old. When he was 13 years old, Shaffer was making low density polyethylene bricks at the Advanced Technology Center.
"It was a wonderful opportunity under the tutelage of folks like Dr. Roger Scherer showing me that there is a bigger world out there," Shaffer said. "
Shaffer received his undergraduate degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his MBA at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. As a former artillery officer, he is also a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It is really inspiring to see the growth of the university," Shaffer said. "I believe the Office of Institutional Effectiveness can serve the needs of the stakeholders on campus and in the community. Shawnee State University is one of the jewels of the Appalachian region and the state of Ohio. I am very excited to be here."
The new Office of Institutional Effectiveness at SSU will provide leadership oversight and support for all planning, assessment and evaluation activities on campus.
The office conducts institutional research to ensure data-driven decision-making, and timely and accurate reporting to external agencies.
