By Claire Wright, Advisor
Some things change; some things stay the same. That is more than true for Student Involvement and Leadership Development going into the Fall ’21 Semester. We have grown, expanded, and moved, but we are still here to offer the same great programs and services to our students.
With the addition of Alyssa Caliguri, Associate Director of New Student Programs and Leadership Development, and her Graduate Intern Mia Cariglia, we have almost doubled in size in terms of staffing. With that comes all of Caliguri’s job responsibilities and programs, including Peer Advising, Freshman Council, Transitions, and Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR).
This is a huge expansion for our little office, but it brings more opportunities rather than challenges. It provides us as a staff with a chance to grow and learn about an area of Student Affairs we normally would not have spent a lot of time experiencing. It also brings with it the opportunity to get to know a whole other group of student leaders and bring them into the fold of our programs and opportunities.
Along with Caliguri and Cariglia joining our team, we have all relocated and have opened the Leadership Lounge. Throughout the summer there was a domino effect of moves, and Caliguri’s move into her new space completed the game.
Myself, Melissa Lambert, the Director of Student Involvement and Leadership, and Ryan Mahan, the Assistant Director for Programming, have moved into the space once occupied by Counseling Services. In order for our move to happen, Counseling moved into the CSP and into the Center for Health and Wellness.
While we have moved, we are still building and growing around the pillars of our office: the Campus Center, Clubs and Organizations, Leadership Development, and Programming. We have something for everyone, and if you don’t find what you are looking for, we can help figure out what that might be.
With our office settled in its new digs, Caliguri moved into the former home of Student Involvement and Leadership at the opposite end of the hall. Along with her went most of the Resource Center, student leader mailboxes, and programming materials creating the new Leadership Lounge. It also provides a space for student leaders to gather to socialize, work together on projects, and get work done on programs.
Despite all the moving parts, changes with new faces in new places, and what might seem like uncertainty, we are still here to provide our students with all the opportunities we can through programing, leadership, involvement, and much more.
Don’t hesitate to come find us on the second floor of the Campus Center in the former home of Counseling Services. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have and help with all your involvement needs.
