Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President Will Rodriguez, Ph.D. (he/him/his), joined Loyola in November of 2017. Will received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Loyola, an M.S.Ed. from Northern Illinois University, and a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to joining us at Loyola, Will worked as the Associate Dean of Students and Ombudsperson at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Will brings with him years of experience in student success, crisis management, diversity, and student advocacy.

Will credits much of his leadership style and approach toward serving students to the values he learned from the sisters at a two-year college known at the time as Felician College. It was there that Will, as a first-generation college student, was exposed to an educational mission that focused on social justice and a deep sense of caring for others — ideals that not only mirror the Catholic, Jesuit mission of Loyola but also resonate with Will personally and professionally.

When Will is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in community service, mixing music, and riding his bike all around Chicago. Will has also been known to provide guided bicycle tours of the city to family, friends, and even students!

Associate Dean of Students Samantha Maher Sheahan, M.Ed., (she/her/hers) returned to Loyola in January of 2021. Samantha is a proud two-time alum, having received both her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Education from Loyola.  In addition, she began her professional career in higher education as the Student Activity Fund (SAF) Manager in the Department of Student Life where she served in various roles for six years.

For the past twenty years, Samantha has worked in numerous roles, serving most recently as the Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator at Saint Xavier University. Guided by the values instilled in her as a student and employee at Loyola, Samantha has a deep commitment to working with and for students to ensure that all students have the support and resources they need to achieve their personal and academic goals.

Samantha and her husband, a fellow Rambler, live in Darien, Illinois with their three children.

Assistant Dean Amber Miller, M.Ed., L.C.P.C. (she/her/hers), is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois and a Loyola University Chicago graduate. She obtained her M.Ed. in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago in 2005 and worked as a psychotherapist in the nonprofit sector for over five years. In 2010, Amber transitioned into higher education at Columbia College Chicago as the Assistant Director of Student Relations. There, she assisted students in crisis and collaborated with campus partners to ensure student success.

In 2014, Amber returned to her alma mater to join the Student Life and Engagement team as the Behavioral Concerns Team Case Manager. Amber is also a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and a former Mizzou Golden Girl. In addition to helping Loyola students, Amber provides individual, family, and couples counseling in her private practice in Old Town.

Cynthia Rosales-Rodriguez, M.Ed. (she/her/hers) joined Loyola in March of 2023. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and has a Master’s in Urban Higher Education. She worked for the Office of the Dean of Students at UIC in a number of roles centering around student advocacy and addressing student concerns. Cynthia is passionate about student success and strongly believes in empowering students towards self-advocacy.

Cynthia grew up in Chicago and is a proud alumna of the Chicago Public School system. She currently lives in the west suburbs with her husband. She loves to cook and spend time with her family. She really enjoys listening to podcasts, appreciates all things Harry Potter, and is very enthusiastic about her coffee!

Fresh from the University of Iowa, Administrative Assistant Jo Anne Walsh (she/her/hers) joined advertising giant Young & Rubicam where she sharpened her advertising skills until joining Scholastic Inc. as Midwest Marketing Director. Jo Anne worked with the likes of Hallmark and SC Johnson developing and implementing quality “in-classroom” marketing programs. Ten years later, Jo Anne was wooed into joining the family business centered in real estate, and became an administrator and real estate agent.

Exposure to quality education models via her children’s schools led Jo Anne to leave the real estate business in 2012 and find a position in education at Loyola's Division of Student Development. As she rides into the sunset of her career, Jo Anne enjoys being in a position where she can assist the quality work being done with and for all our students.