By Sophie Foster
News Co-Editor
Several changes in positions related to student engagement and affairs took place this year, including roles in Intercultural Affairs and Residential Life.
This semester, Washington College saw the arrival of Director of Student Intercultural Affairs Stephanie Gilmore, Community Coordinator of Student Engagement and Intercultural Affairs Lindsay Pass ’22, and Community Coordinator of Residential Life Mike Nichols ’22. Returning faculty member Jennifer Schultz can now be found in her new position in Student Affairs as Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The College also saw the departure of former Director of Counseling Miranda Altman.
According to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Sarah Feyerherm, the College is devoted to keeping transitions smooth and ensuring handoffs are done well so students don’t get lost in the process.
The changes in Intercultural Affairs were made to “clarify lanes” so no staff member is pulled in too many directions, according to Dr. Feyerherm, who said that teams work more effectively than individuals can solo.
“[Gilmore’s] work is specifically with students and student programs,” Dr. Feyerherm said.
Pass, meanwhile, will work on bridging gaps. “As a former student, she understands how student organizations work,” Dr. Feyerherm said.
According to Gilmore, Student Intercultural Affairs will continue to “provide resources to the community [and] make sure that [they] share spaces.”
“The goal is to get through to everybody,” Gilmore said. “I hope to achieve great community collaboration with various groups on campus and with the general community in Chestertown at large.”
Both Intercultural Affairs and Residential Life welcomed recent graduates of WC as new Community Coordinators. Pass and Nichols will work to oversee student engagement, with a focus on “developing their communities,” according to Nichols.
“The hope is that the barrier is taken down a bit,” Nichols said, calling his shift from student to staff member a “seamless transition.”
The Community Coordinator positions were created to help students connect to their community, according to Dr. Feyerherm. “Every time we look at a personnel change, the first question I always ask is ‘how is this going to help the students?’” she said.
According to Dr. Feyerherm, this was also the reason for Schultz’s move to Student Affairs.
“I knew firsthand how…good she was at working with students,” Dr. Feyerherm said, “[and she] liked the idea of being back in the thick of helping students.”
“I really wanted to get back to working with students,” Schultz said. “I’ve only been in this position two weeks and I’m already working with students more than I was in my previous role…the students [are] why I’m here.”
Students can connect with the departments of Intercultural Affairs, Residential Life, and Student Affairs by visiting their offices located on the first floor of Minta Martin Hall, the first floor of Caroline House, and the second floor of the Casey Academic Center, respectively.
Photo courtesy of Grace Hazlehurst
Photo Caption: Residential Life is one of the several departments at WC that saw changes in its staff for this academic year.