Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE-James Chitwood was born in Boscobel to Keith and Ruby Chitwood, who stressed to him the importance of a higher education. He spent his high school years in nearby Blue River, where through his participation in various school activities he became acquainted with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (then known as Wisconsin State University-Platteville). When it came time for Chitwood to apply to colleges, he found his choice to be fairly easy: he would attend WSUP, a school which long before he ever matriculated, he had marched in six of its Homecoming parades and competed in forensics competitions held on its campus. In 1969, Chitwood graduated from the school with a Bachelor of Science in sociology and American history.

After graduation, he taught sociology and early American history at East High School and Preble High School in Green Bay. During this time, he also earned a Master of Science from UWP in guidance and counseling. In 1973, Chitwood became assistant director of the McCowen Residence Hall at the University of Northern Colorado and was responsible for coordinating orientation programs for freshmen and their parents during the summer. The position marked the beginning of Chitwood's extensive career contributions to the betterment of residence hall experience of college students.

By 1981, Chitwood had earned a Ph.D. in college student personnel administration and returned to Wisconsin where he became director of residence.

life at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Today, he serves as the Dean of Students at the university of more than 11,600 students (4,200 of whom reside in residence halls), having been appointed to the position in 2006. Additionally, Chitwood is involved in the UW System Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Task Force, which aims to curtail substance abuse on UW campuses. He has also been host of the Oshkosh Placement Exchange since 1981 and president, keynote speaker, and public schools representative of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association.

Chitwood currently sits on the Awards and Scholarship Committee of the Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO). In 2007, he received the international association's Parthenon Award, its highest honor. In the past, he has also been named an ACUHO-I Foundation of Excellence honoree.

One of his many fond memories of UWP is his senior year move to Melcher Hall as the head resident assistant where current UWP Chancellor David Markee was his supervising hall director. Others, include, as a resident assistance and student leader on campus, marching in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Parade, and meeting his future wife, Kay Cahoon, 1971 UWP graduate, who is now the director of learning innovations and director of Wisc-Online at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton.

Chitwood remains involved with his alma mater to this date, frequenting sporting events, Homecoming celebrations, which he feels are unmatched by any other institution, and openings and dedications. He attributes a great deal of his current success to his beginnings at UWP and notes that it is a place where made many life long friends.

The Chitwoods have three sons and three daughters-in-law: Matthew, wife Heidi; David, wife Andrea; and Stephen, wife Katie. Dr. Chitwood list playing with their two grandchildren, Peter and Wesley, as one of his favorite pastimes. The rest of his free time is divided between his service on five boards and committees in Oshkosh and the Black Wolf township, golfing, gardening, genealogy and photography. He also enjoys traveling and spending time on the farm and woodlots in Richland County, where his extended family resides.

Written by: Sunshine Street, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, streetsu@uwplatt.edu