Rina Tovar, Stetson University vice president for Campus Life and Student Success, is the first recipient ever to receive the NASPA-Florida Outstanding Service to Students Award. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) designed this award as a way to recognize the contributions of professionals who consistently give time and effort counseling, advising and supporting students.

In his nomination of Tovar for this unprecedented award, Stetson Dean of Students Chris Kandus said, “Rina is the ultimate student advocate!”

At a time when “colleges and universities across the nation are facing difficult financial times where positions and budgets were minimized…and administrators had to take on more responsibility without letting the student experience suffer…you have to be driven for excellence, have a huge heart, give more of yourself than you expect to get back in return and truly care about the development of students,” he said. “…Rina is the champion for the best student experience that we can offer at Stetson.”

Tovar joined the Stetson team in July 2005 as director for student involvement and community engagement. In that role, she was instrumental in assisting with the start of Stetson’s Bonner Scholars and Leaders program. After one year, Tovar was promoted to associate dean of students and took on the additional responsibilities of supervising diversity programs and University Career Services.

In August 2008, she was promoted to dean of students and served as the chief student affairs officer and primary student advocate at Stetson. Shortly after becoming Stetson’s president in summer 2009, Dr. Wendy B. Libby promoted Tovar to vice president for Campus Life and Student Success. In her current role, Tovar continues to serve as one of the primary advocates and resources for Stetson students and families, faculty and staff in supporting student retention, graduation and overall success.

Prior to coming to Stetson, Tovar served in administrative roles at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, Grinnell College in Iowa, and Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for her undergraduate degree in communications and earned a master’s degree in college student personnel and higher education administration from Western Illinois University.