Thea Smekens

Thea Smekens has extensive experience in residential life and student success roles. Thea currently holds the position of Director of First Generation Student Success at Ohio Wesleyan University since June 2023. Prior to this, they worked at Denison University as the Associate Director for Residential Communities and Housing from July 2021 to May 2023 and as the Assistant Director of Residential Communities from July 2019 to July 2021. Thea also served as the Area Director of Residential Life at Capital University from July 2018 to June 2019. Earlier in their career, they were the Residential Life Coordinator at Ohio Wesleyan University from October 2015 to June 2018 and the Assistant Coordinator of Residential Life at Tennessee Technological University from August 2014 to October 2015.

Thea Smekens earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Saint Francis in 2014. Thea later obtained a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from McKendree University in 2015.