Alfred University appoints first-ever Assistant VP for Student Success

Iturbides begins his duties on September 23. In his role, he will provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for departments under the Student Experience Unit and work collaboratively to increase student retention and persistence, and  oversee institutional councils, teams, and prevention programs which work together to promote student success.

“Gabe has a history of working with programs that have a holistic approach to student success. He has led programs and initiatives that serve students at risk with highly successful retention and persistence rates,” DeKay said.

“His career and expertise have allowed him to expand those efforts to the larger campus community.  His experience and compassionate leadership make him perfect to develop and lead student success initiatives at Alfred University in this new position.”

“My career has always had a holistic approach to academic and personal development, an area I have learned to navigate well in my previous roles,” Iturbides remarked. “It is also a role that needs great communication and support from the campus. I look forward to meeting and learning from my colleagues about our shared goal of opening pathways toward student success.”

Iturbides comes to Alfred University from St. John Fisher University, where he has served as principal investigator and inaugural director of the Trio Student Support Services (SSS) since 2020, and as director of the Collegiate Science and Technology Program (CSTEP) since 2022.

In those roles, Iturbides led efforts to enhance student advancement by conveying guidance and direction regarding academics, career development, study skills, personal concerns, and financial aid for students that fit the TRIO SSS and CSTEP criteria: first-generation, limited-income, under-represented, and students with documented disabilities. He was responsible for strategic planning that helped his student population achieve persistence/retention and excellent academic standing rates of more than 91 percent.

Iturbides chaired the First-Generation Committee for the St. John University campus, and in his role with TRIO SSS designed a credit-bearing course focusing on practical academic and professional goal-setting.

“My entire higher ed career has been with student success programs,” Iturbides said. “Those programs encouraged innovation to support students regardless of how they are doing at their institution, and my former staff and I always felt ahead of the curve in creating new ways of looking at student success.”

Prior to St. John Fisher, Iturbides was at SUNY Geneseo for 12 years, serving as assistant director (interim director one year) and academic coordinator of Access Opportunity Programs (AOP). The program  strengthened learning outcomes for at-risk students by developing and implementing success plans. He also served as counselor and coordinator of Student Development for AOP.

While at Geneseo, Iturbides was on the President’s Commission on Diversity and Community for 10 years, serving as commission co-chair from 2017-19. As co-chair, he helped create the Annual SUNY Geneseo Diversity Summit.

Iturbides—who earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in professional leadership, both from St. Bonaventure University—is pursuing a Doctor of Education in executive leadership from St. John Fisher University, with degree completion expected this fall. He said he is excited about the opportunity to help Alfred University’s students realize their purpose.

“When I started my doctoral journey, I was asked what kind of role I want in my future, and this role was it” he said. “There is innovation in this role, and I recognized it the moment I read the description, and even more so during the interview. I want to thank Amy DeKay, the search committee, and everyone who participated in the interviews.”