Rate My Professor Rafael Rodriguez

Dr. Rafael Rodriguez serves as Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students at New York University, a role he has held as Dean of Students since 2021 and as Vice President since October 2025. In this position, he acts as a bridge between students and university leadership, fostering partnerships that support holistic student success and align with the university’s mission. He advocates for students to ensure their voices are heard within a supportive and inclusive environment focused on wellbeing, engagement, and personal growth. Dr. Rodriguez brings expertise in crisis response, the recruitment, training, and retention of diverse staff, and the use of data-informed practices to enhance the student experience. His work has emphasized holistic support for marginalized students, the development of student leadership, mentoring of professional staff, and leadership in cultural and organizational change across public and private institutions.

Dr. Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in The Politics of Race from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University at Buffalo, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont. He has taught as a professor at NYU Steinhardt, delivering the course “Crisis Intervention in Higher Education” to graduate students in the Educational Leadership program. His contributions center on advancing student support systems and community building within higher education.