Julia Winden Fey, Ph.D.
Director of Student Success Services
Student Success Services
Email: juliawin@uca.edu
Office: SSVRC 123
Phone: 501-450-5384
Dr. Julia Winden Fey serves as the Director of Student Success Services at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), where she has dedicated twenty-five years to fostering student achievement and academic support. She holds a PhD in Religion and Social Ethics and a Certificate in Gender Studies from the University of Southern California, an MA in Theology and Ethics from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and a BA in Religion and English from Denison University.
While completing her education, Dr. Winden Fey gained valuable experience working for several non-profits, including the Religious Network for Women’s Equality in NYC and the California Medical Association, as well as in travel and legal support. Although not all these roles were directly related to her academic studies, they provided her with a diverse skill set that has been instrumental in her higher-education administrative work.
At UCA, Dr. Winden Fey has held various roles, including teaching positions in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and the Department of Student Transitions. She has also been deeply involved in UCA’s retention and success initiatives. Her positions have included Resident Faculty Master in UCA’s Living Learning Communities, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Director of University College, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, and since 2013, Director of Student Success Services (formerly the Office of Student Success).
Dr. Winden Fey’s most important contributions at UCA are those that directly or indirectly impact student learning and success. Teaching about global religious beliefs and practices has allowed her to expand students’ awareness and engage them in critical and creative exploration. Her efforts in developing academic support services have been pivotal in helping students define and attain their personal and educational goals. Some of her notable achievements include supporting developmental faculty in adopting more effective instructional models, creating the UCAN program for students facing first suspension, developing the Supplemental Instruction Program and the Success Coaching program, expanding UCA’s Student Success Management System (Navigate360), securing a federal Title III grant for the BEAR Life program for low-income first-year students, and relocating Student Success Services to a newly-renovated space in the Student Success and Veterans Resource Center.
As the Director of Student Success Services, Dr. Winden Fey strives to empower her staff to develop programs that support student achievement. She emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts across campus to help students complete their academic goals successfully. She believes that student success encompasses more than just educational access and persistence; it involves enabling students to thrive by considering the complexity of their backgrounds, interests, and needs.
Dr. Winden Fey is passionate about education, having experienced its life-changing impact as a first-generation student from a small-town, working-class background. She is committed to ensuring that students have the resources they need to start and continue their educational journeys. An avid reader, she emphasizes the importance of literacy skills in student success work, especially as society shifts towards a focus on spoken words and images.
She is particularly excited about UCA’s efforts to increase access to higher education through the UCA Commitment program and looks forward to collaborating with enrollment services to support students’ transitions. She also supports the university’s use of technology to enhance the educational experience and facilitate student progress through their degree programs.
Dr. Winden Fey advises students to utilize the resources available, including the support staff dedicated to their success. Personally, she enjoys reading, maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, and spending time in nature. Dr. Winden Fey is married to Dr. Jim Deitrick, a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at UCA, and is the proud mother of two UCA Bears, Griffin (UCA ’24) and Livia (UCA ’26).