March is Women’s History Month, and celebrating women and their stories is significant at IWU.
Dr. Crystal Keetch, the dean of student thriving at IWU, strives for excellence in her work and derives inspiration from women who have built into her life.
“I’ve been impacted by so many of my female colleagues. I’ve been shaped by really incredible women, both in my family, my professional life, and even in my doctoral work,” Keetch said. There are women on this campus who both love me no matter what, but also challenge me to be the best leader I can be so I can better support our students.”
Keetch said she entered her new career after completing her PhD in higher education, focusing on student thriving.
After an IWU institutional restructuring that brought together student success pieces such as first-year advising, first-year experience, tutoring, and academic coaching, her career began in August of 2024.
Her biggest initiative this year was turning the first-year experience program into a 1-credit course.
Next year, Keetch plans to create sections uniquely for incoming transfer students.
In March, a women’s history breakfast is held at IWU featuring a speaker. Around 100 women attend, eat breakfast and recharge. Keetch attended and said she enjoyed it.
IWU is a Wesleyan college that supports women in ministry and leadership. Keetch has been supported here and gets to invest in the next generation.
Dylan Gonzalez, a student worker in the Center for Academic Thriving, works with Keetch.
“Dr. Keetch is a great boss, it is inspiring to be exposed to such a great woman. I am grateful for the work I get to do, and it motivates me seeing her in a leadership role,” Gonzalez said.
Finishing year 17 at IWU, Keetch works with the first-year advising program.
“When we first started working together, we both had the vision for the first year advising, and we were able to start that. Crystal has been amazing in my life, and working with her in this season of life has been all that I wanted,” Michele Schwarte, an academic advisor, said.
Keetch makes a difference in students’ lives and is a strong female leader at IWU.
“It is a gift to get to do work that is so meaningful, to study student thriving and then get to do it for a living, and to invest in the lives of students. You(students) are all continually so impressive, and it is a gift to get to dedicate my life to how to set you(students) up for success in the present and future,” Keetch said.
