Faculty & Staff

Dr. Shino Kuroda Simons is a student affairs leader, educator, and mentor whose career has been devoted to walking alongside students as they learn, grow, and discover their purpose in the world. With almost 30 years of experience in higher education, she brings a deep passion for developing students into professionals who serve and impact society with integrity, empathy, and excellence.

Currently serving as Dean of Students at Keck Graduate Institute, Dr. Simons provides strategic leadership for student engagement, wellness, and professional development while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, including Title IX. She leads initiatives that promote belonging, holistic wellness, and student success across academic and co-curricular settings.

Before joining KGI, Dr. Simons was an independent consultant supporting universities in organizational design, policy compliance, and student engagement strategies. Before that, her last assignment was to serve as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Azusa Pacific University, where she oversaw comprehensive programs in student development, residence life, counseling and health services, spiritual formation, and diversity initiatives. Her leadership was marked by innovation, fiscal stewardship, and the creation of student-centered programs that cultivated growth and community.

Dr. Simons earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Claremont Graduate University, a Master of Education in College Student Affairs, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, both from Azusa Pacific University.

At the heart of her work is a simple passion: listening to students’ stories, asking thoughtful questions that challenge and inspire them, and walking with them as they are launched to make a difference in their communities and in the world, using the knowledge and experience they’ve gained at KGI.