Midland University has announced Dr. Levi Esses as its Vice President for Student Success and Belonging. He officially began serving in his role Sept. 15.
Esses joined Midland after serving as the Assistant Vice President for Student Life at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi since March of 2024.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Esses to the Midland family,” said Dr. Aly Williams, Midland University President. “His passion for creating pathways that support students from all backgrounds, combined with his understanding of our unique mission as a small, private, Lutheran institution, makes him an incredible addition to our community. I am eager to see how his contributions will enhance our students’ experiences.”
Esses brings more than 20 years of Student Life experience to Midland, serving in various roles at several institutions. Before his time at Texas A&M-CC, he spent five years at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland as Vice President and Dean of Students. He also worked in student-facing roles at Kansas State, Newman University, and his alma mater, Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.
“I have been in the Midwest most of my career, so Midland felt like a familiar place to me,” Esses said. “During my interview process, the search committee was great, and I was blown away by the amount of people I got to meet. It just felt like home.”
Esses was a student-athlete himself, having played football at Bethany, and has embraced the role of being a leader at a smaller, private institution.
“I understand what it’s like being a student at a school this size,” he said. “Bethany made a huge impact on my life through the lifelong friendships I made. I know the investment faculty and staff have to make for students at a small, private school. It’s all about the experience for our students and their growth and development. They are not just here for one thing; we have a holistic view of how they will develop.”
Relationships are critical to Esses, and forging a bond between himself and Midland students will be essential to the success of both parties. “I’ve always taken the approach to get to know as many students as possible, and that means learning their names, their interests, and their family history,” he said. “If you can build that rapport, it makes things a lot easier. I want them to know that I care, and when a student knows you care, they will make better decisions down the road.”
Esses is looking forward to welcoming his family, wife Rachel, and 4-year-old son, Emory, into the Warrior family.
“I’m excited to bring them to events and make them part of my world at Midland,” he said. “We are excited to get settled, meet students, and learn everything about Midland.”
