Trapper McLean was named Director of Residence Life and the Student Center in May of 2026. Trapper brings more than 15 years of progressively responsible experience in housing, residence life, and community standards. Trapper holds a Master of Arts in student affairs in higher education from the University of South Dakota and a Bachelor of Science in broad field social studies from Viterbo University.
In his role, Trapper plays a pivotal role in enhancing the student experience and fostering a vibrant, inclusive campus community. His leadership presents an exciting opportunity to build upon South Dakota’s top-rated residence halls, implement innovative housing technologies, and contribute meaningfully to the Student Affairs Strategic Plan (2025–30). He helps shape the future of student engagement, lead transformative initiatives, and support institutional growth through strong collaboration and strategic leadership.
Most recently, he served as Director of Community Standards & Residential Life at the University of Providence. Prior to that role, he spent five years at the University of California, Riverside, as a Resident Director, where he oversaw multiple residential communities, supervised professional and student staff, led programming initiatives, and contributed to campuswide committees focused on student success and engagement.