Chief Operating Officer Patrick O’Rourke announced today that he has appointed Jessica Doty to serve as the new associate vice chancellor of health and wellness at Boulder following a national search.
Doty has led Health and Wellness Services in an interim capacity since January 2022. During her tenure, she has led the university through a restructuring that elevated Boulder’s focus on health and well-being. This included a shift of Health and Wellness Services (HWS) from the Division of Student Affairs to Strategic Resources and Support, as well as bringing the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) under the HWS umbrella.
“Jess’s leadership, vision and collaboration across the campus have proven critical to the success of Health and Wellness Services during a significant period of transition,” O’Rourke said. “I am grateful for her passion to continue implementing a more holistic approach to health and well-being on our campus.
“As a campus, the health and wellness of our community must be a priority,” said O’Rourke. “I look forward to Jess leading a team that places people, inclusivity and compassion at the center of our approach to promoting a culture of care and wellness both for the team in HWS and for all of our students, faculty and staff.”
Health and Wellness Services has continually enhanced care for students, faculty and staff during Doty’s interim leadership, including: providing students with unlimited no-cost telehealth; negotiating no copay for mental health services on the student health insurance plan; establishing employee wellness programs such as urgent care and no-cost mental health.
Before her interim appointment, Doty served as the assistant vice chancellor for Health and Wellness Services. She joined Boulder in 2011 and served in several leadership roles, including director of student conduct and conflict resolution as well as director of administrative services. Her achievements also include establishing commercial billing in the health center, operationalizing pandemic protocols and launching the first testing center for students seeking accommodations.
“I am honored for the opportunity to continue leading our campus’s approach to health and well-being, and I’m excited for the opportunities to serve and partner with units across the campus,” Doty said. “Our team of HWS staff members who provide medical, clinical and disability services, as well as health promotion, care deeply about the well-being of our campus community and continue to innovate in the ways in which they serve our students, faculty and staff.”
A Minnesota native, Doty holds a doctorate in educational leadership and equity from Denver, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from St. Cloud State University.
“I want to thank Associate Vice Chancellor and Title IX Coordinator Llen Pomeroy for chairing our search committee, as well as the committee for their dedication and professionalism in guiding a successful search,” O’Rourke said. “I am also grateful to all of our campus community members who participated in candidate forums and finalist interviews. The input of our campus community is vital as we select leaders for our university.”