Meet the New Director of the Armstrong Student Center
The Armstrong Student Center recently welcomed a new director. Geoff Combs joined the Division of Student Life in August.
Meet the New Director of the Armstrong Student Center
The Armstrong Student Center recently welcomed a new director. Geoff Combs joined the Division of Student Life in August.
Combs most recently served as a Student Life Project Manager at the University of Limerick, Ireland. In that role, he was tasked with planning the opening of a new state-of-the-art, $37M student center based on the U.S. model of student unions.
Prior to working in Ireland, Combs was the executive director of the Campus Center and Event Services at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. There, he oversaw the planning, vision, and opening of a new 330,000 square-foot campus center, the first student union on the UMass Boston campus. He also directed the strategic vision and daily operations of the center and oversaw university-wide conference and event services.
“We found Geoff to be a highly experienced, strategic, and thoughtful leader,” said Scott Walter, assistant vice president for student life. “I am personally excited to have Geoff on board and preparing the Armstrong Student Center to move forward to serve our community during its second decade of existence.”
A native of Ohio, Combs’ return to his home state marks a new chapter in his career. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Ohio University, and he is excited to reconnect with the local community.
Combs was drawn to Miami because of how the Armstrong Student Center prioritizes students and serves as the gateway to co-curricular learning. “I spent my career working in student centers, student unions and student life,” said Combs. “In my view, The Armstrong Student Center is one of the best.”
He also cited the people as another reason he came to Miami. “From the moment I set foot on campus, I was welcomed with open arms,” he said. "This is an incredible community of people, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
The Armstrong Student Center, true to Miami University's tradition and identity, serves as the family room for campus, contributing to student learning, development, and creating a sense of community and belonging. Spanning 215,000 square feet, the center houses key resources such as the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, the Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership, and the Center for Career Exploration and Success. It also features nine dining venues, an esports gaming lounge, an 8,000 square-foot ballroom, a 500-seat theater, and numerous other facilities designed to support student life and engagement.
As director, Combs will oversee the fiscal, policy, facility, and programmatic operations of the Armstrong Student Center. He will lead a team of eight full-time staff and approximately 70 student staff members, managing the center's budget and ensuring the center remains an inclusive and equitable environment for all students. His role also involves maintaining collaborative relationships with university departments, managing space reservations and event planning, and leading sustainability initiatives.
"I am excited to join the Armstrong team and welcome the opportunity to build new relationships with students, faculty, and staff," said Combs.
Combs plans to spend his first few months on campus listening and learning.
"Armstrong celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2024 and I look forward to working alongside the campus community to write the next chapter of Armstrong’s story," he said. "Together, we will continue to ensure that the Armstrong Student Center remains a vibrant hub of co-curricular learning, student engagement, and community building."
