Christopher Chris Niles

Christopher Niles

Christopher "Chris" Niles has been known to conduct workshops in full clown regalia.But there is one topic he doesn't clown around about: leadership development.Chris is an assistant dean and the director of First-Year Programs and Student Leadership Development at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.In this role, he oversees the mentoring program that is at the heart of the university's program for first-year students.He also serves as interim coordinator of Fraternity Affairs, and has worked in residence life, orientation, and leadership programming at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.With more than a decade's worth of experience in designing and delivering dynamic development opportunities for both student and professional audiences, Chris' primary focus of leadership development in his programming is highly interactive and experiential.

Christopher Niles
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Christopher Niles

Christopher Niles, Indiana University

Chris NilesChris Niles is a Lead Associate for professional programs at Bradford Woods.Chris started with the Professional Program at its inception in 1995.Chris has used his unique background to develop and deliver dynamic development opportunities for college students and professionals in the corporate and non-profit sectors.Chris' primary focus is leadership development and his programming is highly interactive and experiential.

Facilitator: Chris Niles
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Chris Niles photoChristopher resides in Greencastle, Indiana, where he is employed at DePauw University as the Director of First-Year Programs.Chris has 10 years of experience in program design and facilitation with both student and professional audiences.

Chris has degrees in business administration and higher education/student affairs from the University of Vermont and Indiana University, respectively.He has used this blend to design and deliver dynamic development opportunities for college students and teenagers as well as professionals in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.Chris' primary focus is leadership development and his programming is highly interactive and experiential.

Chris has worked with a number of school-based organizations, small to mid-sized corporations, and not-for-profit institutions throughout Indiana, presented at campuses throughout the country, and worked at the highest levels with international community service clubs and Greek letter fraternal organizations.Having joined Tau Kappa Epsilon as an honorary member in 1999, Chris is currently serving a 2-year term as the chairperson of the fraternity's education committee.

Prior to working at DePauw, Chris worked in residence life, orientation and leadership programming at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and at Indiana University's Bloomington campus.He has also worked in sales, customer service, and training for American Airlines, Shawmut Bank, and IBM.After completing his graduate work at Indiana University, Chris worked as the Coordinator of Leadership Programs and then as the Coordinator of the Professional Development Center at Bradford Woods, IU's Outdoor Education and Leadership Center.During this time, Chris was also a part-time lecturer at the university.At DePauw, Chris drives the mentoring program that is at the heart of depauw.year1, the university's first-year experience program.

Chris Niles

"I think another key incident last year was Dr. Bottoms' ‘Building a Responsible Community' address and the initiatives that have spawned from that," said Chris Niles, director of first-year programs."Perhaps there's a new momentum occurring as students are seeing, and talking about, things differently and taking a different level of ownership of and responsibility for what's happening around them on campus."Niles said the growing faculty and the increase in minority faculty have also had a major impact on students across campus.

Chris Niles, director of first-year programs, said performances like Domitrz's give people permission to talk about sexual assault issues with other students."That's really what needs to be happening," he said.Senior Ben Marston agreed.

The Emerging Leaders program, spearheaded by Chris Niles, director of first-year programs and student leadership development, will likely begin later this year.

Depauw.year1 is supposed to help freshmen get acclimate to the DePauw community , said Chris Niles , director of first-year programs.Depauw.year1 places 10 to 13 freshmen with an upperclassmen mentor.The group also has a seminar class together.

Freshmen meet with their mentor groups during freshmen orientation.Orientation activities are designed to build relationships among students.The activities also introduce freshmen to the four pillars of a successful college career at DePauw - intellectual engagement , developing a positive community , appreciating diverse people and ideas , and goal assessment.The groups continue to meet every other week during their first semester.
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Niles said the idea behind mentor groups is that freshmen will be socially comfortable at DePauw , which will carry over into the classroom.

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Niles said the University has since scheduled more time for moving in and settling down.The legacy project.

The Depauw.year1 experience does not end with the start of classes , though.Mentors monitor the freshmen to ensure they are adjusting well to DePauw.They continue to focus on the four pillars in bi-weekly meetings.

Each mentor group also produces a legacy project.The freshmen work together to produce a presentation , artifact or performance to leave behind at DePauw.
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It captures some of who they are and what their experience was at DePauw in their first semester , Niles said.

According to Niles , every student has something to give to DePauw.The legacy projects are an immediate way for students to make a mark.Once completed , the projects will be put on display in the Union Building during spring semester.

In the past , many groups have not completed their projects.Niles , however , said he hopes to increase participation in the legacy projects this year.Alumni ties.

Beginning this year , the Alumni Relations Office has been soliciting alumni volunteers to participate with mentor groups , Niles said.Alumni will meet with the mentor groups once before spring break to relate their DePauw experiences.Niles hopes to have one volunteer for each group.

The first of these meetings occurred Sunday night.