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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Peter Smithhisler has joined the administrative staff of Valley City State University as interim vice president for student affairs.

As interim VPSA, Smithhisler will direct the Student Affairs division, leading VCSU’s efforts in enrollment, retention, and financial aid; residence life and dining; cocurricular activities; counseling, career and diversity services; parent relations; student safety, government and judicial process; and new student orientation.

Smithhisler previously served the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) in Indianapolis, Ind., most recently as president and CEO. (NIC, a 75-member trade association, serves 400,000 student members and 5 million alumni on 800 campuses throughout the United States and Canada.) Smithhisler began his NIC career in 1998 as director of leadership education; in 2001, he became vice president for media and community relations, and in 2007 he became president and CEO, as well as executive vice president of the NIC Foundation.

His other higher education experience includes work at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colo.) as interim director of campus activities, associate director of campus activities and director of Greek life; at the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, N.D.) as coordinator of Greek life; and at Western Illinois University (Macomb, Ill.) as interfraternity council advisor.

He holds a master’s degree in college student personnel and a bachelor’s degree in public communication and human relations, both from Western Illinois University.

Smithhisler and his wife, Christina, are the parents of twin daughters, Olivia and Hadley. His family will remain at their home in the Indianapolis area while his daughters complete their senior year in high school.