Phil Covington, EdD, associate vice chancellor for student success, has been named one of NASPA’s 2025 Pillars of the Profession.
NASPA is the professional home for the field of student affairs in higher education, and the award is one of the NASPA Foundation’s highest honors, recognizing exceptional members of the student affairs and higher education community for their contributions to the field and lasting impact to the institutions they have served.
Dr. Covington has been with UNMC since 2017, originally serving students at both UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha through a dual appointment. Since July 2020, his leadership has been focused exclusively on the UNMC Division of Student Success.
He currently serves NASPA as the co-chair of the Administrators in Graduate and Professional Student Services Knowledge Community and as the founder of the Student Affairs in Academic Health Sciences Network.
Dr. Covington has more than 25 years of experience in student affairs and enrollment services as a leader. His previous roles include senior director of student life, assistant dean, associate dean and dean of students, serving seven public universities in five different states with student enrollments ranging in size from 1,400 to nearly 16,000, including UNO and the University of South Dakota.
“I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to be recognized with this distinction,” Dr. Covington said. “NASPA has been my professional association home for 27 years and has given me opportunities to learn from the very best across the nation and the globe. Additionally, I’ve been blessed with incredible colleagues to work alongside, including the amazing people at UNMC. Our shared work is about pouring into our students, so they are positioned to thrive well into the future.”
Colleagues and friends who wish to send a congratulatory note to Dr. Covington, which will be included with his award, can do so here.
Congratulations Dr. Covington! Very well deserved.
Congratulations – so well deserved!
Congrats on this honor, Phil, and for being such a proactive advocate for student success, wellbeing and mental health!
Congratulations! Your dedication to student success is admirable.
Congratulations Phil!
Congratulations!
Congrats, Phil! Well-deserved!
Congratulations! You deserve this for all of your hard work and dedication!
Congrats, Phil!
Congratulations on the award, Phil! You are an outstanding – and enthusiastic – advocate for UNMC students. And, it’s a joy to work with you.
Congratulations Dr. Covington! Absolutely deserved, thanks for all you do for students on campus and beyond!
Congratulations, Phil! Proud to call you a colleague.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Dr. Covington. I admire your dedication to the students on this campus and those throughout the state.
So well deserved. Congratulations on this recognition, Dr. Covington!
Congratulations Dr. Covington! Thank you for your commitment to our students.
An awesome recognition of one of UNMC’s finest. U da’ man, Phil!
Dr. Covington,
Congratulations on being named one of NASPA’s 2025 Pillars of the Profession! Thank you for all you do for UNMC students.
So very well earned and recognition truly deserved!!! Well done, Phil!!!!
Very well deserved, Phil! 👏