With the new year underway, Saint Mary’s College welcomed administrative change at the start of the spring 2015 semester. The single office once dedicated to "Student Involvement and Multicultural Services" is now split and led by two new directors, Brittany House and Gloria Jenkins.
“They provide different services and opportunities for students,” sophomore Lydia Heller said. “Now that the offices are separate, they will be able to cater to more people on a more detailed level.”
Heller said she believes the combination of offices will have a positive impact on the College.
Saint Mary's newest administrators said they expect the positive impact of their offices to extend to the students and themselves.
“I enjoy working at smaller, private liberal arts colleges, and I wanted to work for a women's institution," House, the new director of Student Involvement, said. "When I interviewed here, everyone was friendly and genuine. I was impressed — and still am — by the students I met during my interview. Their maturity, dedication, and intelligence are inspiring.”
Both Jenkins and House were introduced to the College just last week, but both said they found Saint Mary's appealing because of its identity as a liberal arts college and the character of its faculty, staff and students.
"[The campus] made a very good impression," Jenkins, the new director of Multicultural Services, said. "The mission and the values, everything that [students] do here."
Jenkins said she intends to actively reach out to the women of Saint Mary's College and cater to their needs.
“The most important thing is making time for the students, getting to know them and trying to find out how in my role I can help the students and meet the mission of the institution as well,” Jenkins said. "I want to find out how our offices can better serve the students."
Since Jenkins started her new role, she said she finds fulfillment in realizing her mission.
“My highlight of my workday is just meeting all the great students and having the opportunity to sit down and talk with them,” Jenkins said. “I’m someone that really believes in serving others and mentoring women leaders. Whatever the needs are, that’s my job to do those needs.”
Both offices, though similar in services offered to students, have different ways of implementing their ideas through the focus of their respective offices, House and Jenkins said.
“The Office of Student Involvement will work with students and student organizations both," House said. "In my role as director, I plan to be interacting with students through the programs and events our office will be hosting.”
House said she is especially excited to help with the College's annual spring festival Tostal this semester.
Jenkins said she is particularly interested in “working on the Belles Connect Scholars Program.”
Both halves of the former office have an open-door policy meant to encourage students to engage in the planning of college events.
“I’m always open to ideas and suggestions from students on the types of programs and events they would like to see on campus,” House said.
“We will be working closely together," Jenkins said. "We will be continuing to work and collaborate together. We’re partners in making sure that there’s a good campus life on campus and that we meet the needs of the students.”
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