Office of the Dean of Students

Dr. Scott Wallace began his role as Dean of Students at Augusta University in June 2014. As a leader within the Division of Enrollment and Student Affairs, he is an advocate for student growth and encourages a holistic college experience. Specific areas of support include the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Student Wellness, and Testing and Disability Services. He previously also supervised the Office of Student Life and Engagement; Multicultural Student Engagement; and the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.

 

Prior to Augusta University, Wallace served as Assistant Dean of Students for nine years at the University of Mississippi, fondly known as Ole Miss. During that time, he gained experience in the areas of student conduct, student organizations, student government, and policy management. Specifically, with student conduct, he honed his skills in conflict resolution by adjudicating more than 1,500 cases of non-academic student conduct. The latter part of his tenure at Ole Miss was spent working as the primary advisor to a Greek-lettered community of 6,200 students. Additionally, he served as the advisor to student government and managed the official recognition process of more than 300 student organizations.

 

Wallace earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was a student athlete, playing Division I golf. He earned a master’s degree and PhD in higher education in 2005 and 2012, respectively.  He and his wife, April, have two children, Reed Thomas and Bonnie Grace.

Dr. Simone Hicks began her role as Associate Dean of Students at Augusta University in June 2022. As a leader in this role, she works to ensure students who may be in distress have the support they need to overcome various challenges. Specifically, she chairs AU’s Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team; oversees operations of our Jags Care initiative; serves as a conduct hearing officer; and manages the Open Paws Food Pantry, the Student Emergency Fund, and other student advocacy initiatives.

Prior to Augusta University, Hicks was Assistant Dean and Director of Case Management at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. There, she worked to meet the diverse needs of students via weekly check-ins and consultations with parents, faculty, staff and other campus resources. She is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and has held positions in community mental health, acute psychiatric units and college counseling centers. Her student advocacy, holistic in nature, emphasized an individual approach to care and led the case management department to be recognized for best practices for supporting diverse students, as noted in the 2021 book entitled “The Agile College” by Nathan D. Grawe.

Dr. Hicks earned a Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation services from Troy University in 2011; a Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling from Alabama State University in 2015; and a PhD in counselor education and supervision from Ohio University in 2018. Hicks is actively involved in the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) program, disability services organizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and was named among Alabama State University’s 50 under 50. Hicks enjoys mentoring youth, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

Beth Caldwell serves as Augusta University’s Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Case Manager where she provides hands-on support and solutions for students who may be struggling in various areas. She connects them with AU and community resources to meet their needs, academically, while also focusing on the overall holistic wellbeing of the student. 

 

Born and raised in Southern California, after high school, she joined the United States Army, trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and was stationed Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. Upon serving honorably for three years and eight months as a 25B Information Technology Specialist, she was medically retired. She remained in Augusta received an associate degree in social work from Georgia Military College in 2017. She obtained a Bachelor of Social Work from Augusta University in 2021. While at Augusta University, she was a work study in the Military and Veterans office, helping students utilize their military education benefits. She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama in 2022.

 

Caldwell has a very active 5-year-old son, Harley, with whom she enjoys trips to the park and visiting family in California.