Retirement reception for Jim Hoppa scheduled
James (Jim) M. Hoppa, senior associate vice chancellor for student union, activities and recreation (SUAR) in the Division of Student Affairs, will retire Friday, June 1, after 36 years of distinguished service, leadership and dedication to student life at UNC Charlotte.
A retirement reception in Hoppa’s honor is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, in the Popp Martin Student Union, Room 340GHI.
During his career, Hoppa was instrumental in the planning, design, construction and opening of many signature student-fee-funded facilities, including the Phase V residence halls and the Popp Martin Student Union as well as the forthcoming University Recreation Center. He also established the Conference, Reservations and Events Office (CRES).
For the last 15 years, Hoppa has advised the Student Advisory Fee Commission, a student-majority board responsible for the allocation of more than $1 million annually in student fees. He is known for building collaborative partnerships across campus and meeting the needs of a growing student enrollment with creativity and responsible fiscal management.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in education and Master of Science in Higher Education from the State University College at Buffalo in New York, Hoppa started his professional career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in residence life.
Hoppa joined UNC Charlotte in 1982. As an assistant director with Housing and Residence Life, he managed facilities for what was then a 3,750-bed campus housing program. After five years, he was hired as the first full-time University conference manager to create a “one-stop shop” conference and reservations office.
From conference management, Hoppa joined the staff of the Cone University Center as associate director for operations, taking the helm as director in 1994. He was promoted to assistant vice chancellor for student life facilities in 2003, advancing to associate vice chancellor for student union, activities and recreation in 2008. He has served as senior associate vice chancellor for student affairs since 2016.
Hoppa has been active in many collegiate professional associations such as the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), NIRSA: Leaders in College Recreation and NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. He has delivered many conference presentations and served on the ACUI 100th Anniversary Committee from 2011-14.