An Italian dinner was a “twofer” for Ed Klotzbier and his wife on Saturday, as the couple celebrated her birthday and his now-permanent position as the Vice President for Student Affairs.

The Executive Board of Trustees decided Friday that after several intense interviews conducted throughout the week by the search committee, Klotzbier would fill the vacant post and leave his position in university relations, officially stepping into the role of VP in January.

“I’m very excited. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this,” Klotzbier said. “It’s a really exciting time at Northeastern. It’s an exciting time for me to be in such an important area of the university. I’m going to have fun in this job. I intend to have fun.”

Klotzbier moved across campus from Columbus Avenue to Ell Hall at the beginning of the semester after the vice presidency was left vacant when former VP Karen Rigg retired last spring.

Though Klotzbier has no formal training in the field of student affairs, Philomena Mantella, senior vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, said she and others on campus, were pleased with his performance thus far.

“He was widely endorsed from the search committee, to the direct reports, to the students, everybody had the same view — that he was incredibly well suited for the role, brought a lot of energy [and] that his perspective and training brought a new element to the team,” Mantella said.

Klotzbier had to learn the ropes of his interim role while still fulfilling the duties that his other job entailed; but it was not long before he realized that he was ready to hang his pictures on the wall and make the office, next to the Husky, his new home.

“I think that [Mantella] and [President Richard Freeland] got to see me over the past eight weeks and got to see … the passion and the excitement that I have,” Klotzbier said.

It was not until around 3 p.m. Friday that he received a call from Mantella telling him the good news.

Klotzbier immediately called his wife to share the decision with her and their two sons.

“It’s funny, because he’s such a great guy, but he’s so calm about everything,” said Klotzbier’s wife, Stella Danis. “I was very excited; the boys were even thrilled. We’re very proud of him.”

Vincent Lembo, vice president and university council who was present at the board meeting, later called Klotzbier to congratulate him.

“I knew [Klotzbier] when he was a student here, so I was just kidding him that he’s sort of come full circle for vice president of student affairs and we both laughed at that,” Lembo said. “[Klotzbier’s] a very student-oriented person; always has been.”

When Klotzbier came to Mantella about student affairs and altering his career path, she said she tried her hardest not to show her bias. Now that Klotzbier has been named as the VP, she said she cannot hold her elation within.

“I’m thrilled, I couldn’t be more excited. It’s always fun to put together a team, and I feel very fortunate for the people I get to work with,” Mantella said. “[Klotzbier]’s a high energy, intelligent, no nonsense kind of guy and I enjoy that.”

Klotzbier, who is now free to make plans for his office beyond the end of the semester, is ready to take on whatever the job offers him.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Klotzbier said. “I’ve been sort of like a caretaker … now that I do have the job, I feel more confident and comfortable.”

He plans to look into student activities and make sure they are what the students are looking for.

The only thing that worries him with his new position, he said, is having to leave his old department short-handed and telling them he’s “not coming back over to 716 Columbus Ave.”

Assistant Director of University Communications Christine Phelan, who, along with other members of the University Relations office, has had to take on extra responsibilities over the last semester, is not worried about Klotzbier’s official move.

“I think we’re doing okay,” Phelan said. “I feel like everybody’s kind of stepping up to the plate. We’re still going to rely on him for plenty of advice, so it’s not as if the cord’s been cut.”

While Danis said Klotzbier is “a little bit of a workaholic,” she is ready for him to devote his time to one job instead of two so he can spend more time at home.

“Won’t that be nice,” she said.

– Staff writer Heather Allen contributed to this report