Search for Res Life director underway

Search for Res Life director and an one area coordinator begun

New faces are taking over Residential Life and Services slowly but surely.

Over the summer several new people joined the staff of Res Life, and a bigger change is on the horizon with the search for a new director.

Last fall, Deborah McNish, the director of Res Life, became interim dean of students after the resignation of Charlene Cole-Newkirk. Filling McNish's place as interim director was Yeworkwha Belachew, who moved from her position as assistant director of Res Life. Belachew held the position throughout the year, serving as interim director until McNish left Oberlin for a job at Earlham College.

Now, as new Dean of Students, Peter Goldsmith gets settled in, a search is gearing up for a new director of Res Life.

The search committee will be chaired by Linda Gates, acting associate dean of student academic services. Other members of the committee will include Harry Pepper, psychologist from the counseling center, and Marge Burton, assistant director of Safety and Security. One faculty member, yet to be named, and two students will also sit on the committee.

Still in the preliminary stages, Goldsmith and Belachew are working on a job description for the position. Candidates for the position will be on campus early next semester.

Other new faces in the Res Life office have already appeared. Two new area coordinators have already been hired. Shelley Owens, the area coordinator in charge of the program houses, however, resigned Sept. 15 citing personal reasons. Kevin Williams is the other new coordinator, who over sees Dascomb, Talcott, Fairchild and South.

David Castro will be serving as interim area coordinator while a search is conducted. Castro was originally hired as the assistant area coordinator for the program houses.

Two new positions were also created in Res Life. Two graduate assistants, Drew Tinnin and Marites DeFiesta, both from Bowling Green University, are now working with the department.

This leaves only two vacancies in the Res Life office. The search for applicants for the position of director of Residential Life and Services as well as an area coordinator in charge of program houses.