Andrea McDew, Ed.D., has been selected as the new assistant vice president and senior Title IX coordinator for the UAB Title IX Office. In her new role, McDew will provide guidance and authority related to Title IX and related policies across the university and UAB Medicine for students, faculty and staff.
UAB President Ray L. Watts, M.D., stressed the importance of the Title IX office and the decision to create this new position. “We conducted benchmarking and an environmental scan for best practices and studied options before landing on this solution,” he said. “This role will further elevate Title IX services and resources to the enterprise. I thank the search committee and everyone who dedicated their attention and provided insight and guidance for this important search.”
McDew was selected by a search committee chaired by Katie Crenshaw, J.D., UAB’s chief risk and compliance officer. The seven committee members all had extensive knowledge and background in Title IX and university safety, and they prioritized candidates’ experience as well as their ability to work well with the UAB and UAB Medicine communities.
McDew received her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Texas Christian University in 2023. She comes to UAB with an extensive background in Title IX and university safety. At TCU McDew was the Title IX coordinator and sexual harassment officer, which required the implementation and evaluation of Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII, all of which protect the integrity and physical safety of vulnerable groups.
As Title IX coordinator at TCU, McDew also worked to identify systemic gaps in campus partnerships and ensure regular meetings and discussions to address concerns and complaints. McDew was also directly responsible for assessing all reports for Clery Act reporting and served on the Clery Compliance Committee, an essential element of Title IX reporting and implementation. Prior to TCU, McDew also served as the director of safety and security at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., where she was responsible for administering a comprehensive public safety department to provide a safe learning and work environment for all students, faculty, staff and guests.
McDew is a member of the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the National Association for Clery Compliance Officers (NACCOP).
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Brian Burnett, Ph.D., reiterated the importance of McDew’s expertise as she joins UAB. “Dr. McDew’s extensive experience in managing complex safety issues and Title IX issues in university settings will serve her and UAB well. With the evolving landscape of Title IX and its regulations, it is vital that the person in this role can implement changes seamlessly with key partners while upholding the standard that UAB students, faculty and staff deserve.”
“I am honored to serve as the assistant vice president and senior Title IX coordinator at UAB,” McDew said. “With the support of our leadership, I am committed to enhancing the human experience and ensuring that we collaborate, uphold integrity, show respect to all and achieve excellence in the work of the Title IX Office. My aim is to further contribute to the positive influence on both UAB and the larger community.”
McDew will begin at UAB on July 1.