Oct. 20, 2004

SASS Launches Visiting Professional Fellowships

By Julia Jacobelli

The Office of Student and Academic Support Services inaugurated a new Visiting Professional Fellowship program designed to provide departmental employees with a more expansive view of community life while developing important leadership skills. The six fellows chosen are Katelyn Rosa, assistant director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; Brian Hamluk, director of the Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education; Grace Henry, assistant director of Leadership Programs for the Student Activities Center; Nicole Macchione, Student Activities Center specialist; Rafi Blumenthal, assistant director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; and Andrew Sonn, director of Housing and Occupancy Management. They are serving two-month rotations throughout SASS departments such as student activities, financial aid, the career center and admissions. While still meeting the obligations of their current positions, fellows dedicate 10 hours a week to the fellowship post.

“Like many things in life, the greatest challenge is based on lack of time,” says Sonn.

Blumenthal echoed this sentiment, adding that juggling the fellowship commitment while holding down a full-time position as an assistant director has been challenging.

The fellowship program was born of an idea for staff to be able to work alongside other unit leaders in a kind of mentorship program. Its concept was based on the research of other organizations including the American Council of Education and the White House. The six fellows were selected by Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Robert Chernak and an advisory committee after an exhaustive application and interview process. Following their selection the fellows participated in a multi-day retreat this summer to set goals, network and promote professional development.

“We looked for strong candidates who already excel in their work at GW, particularly in providing top notch service and effective programming to the students on campus, as well as talent, drive, motivation and an ability to stay focused in both their departmental goals, as well as the new opportunities that are coming their way as a result of the fellowship,” said Peter Konwerski, assistant to the senior vice president and executive director of administrative partnerships.

The fellows keep in touch with one another and Konwerski through biweekly meetings and discuss their experiences. According to the fellows, the opportunity to bounce ideas off of the other members of the program has been an important component to the development of the fellowship. Without the constant flow of ideas, the environment would be very different.

When the program ends, the fellows will have the opportunity to remain in their current positions, or they may be able to make the shift to a new professional environment, if they feel more comfortable after having gained a more extensive exposure to other areas of University life.

“I’ve been working in admissions at GW for four years, I’m looking forward to exposure in other fields,” said Blumenthal. “I’m looking forward to getting a sense of what students’ life is like once they’re here, rather than only seeing them during the admissions process.”

“The goal is that we hope to expand and maintain the program with new fellows next year,” explained Konwerski. “This year’s fellows will be able to play a role in scoping out the program, possibly as leaders or co-managers, since they know best how a good fellowship should run.”

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