USC's Marc Shook has been named a 2026 Pillar of the Profession by the NASPA Foundation, celebrating his exceptional service to the field of student affairs.
Shook, who serves as Associate Vice President (AVP), Dean of Students and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at USC, recently completed his term as New Professionals Institute (NPI) Director for NASPA Region III and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA). During the 2024 and 2025 NPI Institute hosted on the university's historic Columbia campus, Shook welcomed the two largest attendances in the event's history, including a record-breaking 93 participants for 2025.
He joined the NPI faculty in 2019, just his second year at the University of South Carolina, as part of his strong commitment to furthering the field of student affairs and boosting the next generation of higher education professionals.
"One my most influential mentors, Dr. John L. Blackburn, instilled in me a drive to help develop the future of our field in student affairs. I stayed with NPI because it works; the combination of pairing some of the most outstanding faculty with new student affairs employees who are handpicked by their institution to receive this experience is so impactful," Shook says.
It was also Dr. Blackburn who Dr. Shook honors with his Pillars distinction; commenting, "Dr. Blackburn is a former NASPA President and he created the Pillars program while serving as NASPA Foundation Chair so this is a impactful way to continue our connection together through student affairs and service to NASPA."
Shook was also the 2022 recipient of the AVP/Senior-Level Student Affairs Professional Award presented by NASPA, the highest professional honor for senior level leaders issued by the organization. He also received the Gamecocks Stand Up “Hero Award” in 2020 presented by the USC Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention and Prevention Office. He previously was the recipient of the Bobby E. Leach Award for significant contribution to the development of multicultural relations on campus by SACSA.
On a day-to-day basis, he oversees a key portfolio for the division, including Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, the Student Care and Outreach Team, the Student Disability Resource Center, Basic Needs Programming, Withdrawal Services and Temporary Conditions and Injuries. Additionally, he has taken on leadership for both University Housing and Fraternity and Sorority Life over the past year while guiding student education, prevention, training, positive engagement and compliance efforts for each area.
About NASPA at USC
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. The organization serves a full range of professionals who provide programs, experiences and services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of member colleges and universities. Founded in 1919, NASPA is comprised of more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.
The University of South Carolina is represented in NASPA Region III, covering the southeastern U.S. In addition to Shook, USC is additionally represented on the NASPA Region III advisory board by Kimberley Dressler, Assistant Director for the Carolina Experience, who serves as the South Carolina State Director.