Dean of Students Office
appoints leadership coordinator
By Kurt Esposito
Summer
Editor
Student leaders, who in the past did not know where
to go for guidance, can now look to one place for advice on issues associated
with being a leader.
They can now seek counsel from Bridget Williams,
the University's first leadership coordinator.
Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of student activities
and organizations, said the office created the position to focus on
the leadership development of students, a task previously divided amongst
the staff.
He said the new position promotes a more proactive
approach with student involvement.
Williams, leadership coordinator, started July
9 and will be available to help with leadership woes for all of the
630-plus student organizations.
She will begin work at the start of the fall semester
by working with students during the Emily Mauzy Vogel sophomore leadership
conference and the student leader retreat.
She will also serve as adviser for Purdue Student
Government.
Williams said her office will always be open to
students seeking advice. She will also go to meetings of student groups
to offer wisdom to the entire group.
She will help students plan and budget various
events by making sure they fill out the proper forms. After the event
is held she can even work with the students to see what worked and what
did not.
She will also help them with any concerns they
have about being a student leader — which can include planning
an event or working with the people within her group. Williams said
most times students just need someone to talk to and then come up with
a solution to the problem on their own.
Even if a student is involved in a leadership role
outside of campus he can still come in to seek advice from Williams.
"I'm always available and happy to talk with them,"
she said.
Williams, a 1998 graduate of Purdue with a degree
in English education, was asked to fill the position even before she
finished her master's work at Ohio State University. Malavenda said
the she was considered when the office began looking to fill the position.
After an interview, she was offered the position
in October of 2000 and hired the following semester. Malavenda said
they were willing to wait until she finished her master's work in May.
"I don't think there is a person out there that
is better suited for the position," he said.
While attending Purdue as an undergraduate, Williams
was a member of Mortar Board. Malavenda said she was "one of the best
leaders this campus has seen in years."
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