Dr. Walter Snipes joined Lafayette College on October 1, 2024, bringing 20 years of experience in higher education, including roles at Davidson College, Oxford College of Emory University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
In his role as Lafayette’s Dean of Students, Dr. Snipes oversees the offices of residence life, student involvement, wellness & prevention, student conduct and restorative practices, and case management.
Dean Snipes joined Davidson in 2015 as Assistant Dean of Students and Associate Director of Residence Life. He served as the Interim Senior Conduct Officer for a brief stretch in 2018-19 and held the position of Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life from 2019 until his arrival at Lafayette. While at Davidson, he established streamlined policies and processes to enhance the student experience, with a particular focus on equity and inclusion. He also brings expertise in residential operations and curriculum implementation, student education and development, crisis management, academic advising, retention, team development, training, and collaborative work with campus partners.
Prior to Davidson, Dr. Snipes served for four years as the Assistant Director of Residential Education and Services at Oxford College of Emory University. He started his career as a Residence Education Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, serving in the role for seven years.
Dr. Snipes earned his B.A. in religion and mathematics and M.Div. from Emory University. He earned his D.S.L. (doctorate in strategic leadership) from Regent University. He is a member of numerous higher education professional associations and is a board member of The HUE Leadership Alliance.