A ceremony at Kellogg Center welcomed three new unit directors within Student Affairs and Services on Monday.
Kelley Bishop of Career Services and Placement, Marti Ruel of the Department of Student Life and Renee Sanders-Lawson of the Office of Supportive Services ventured into their new careers at the beginning of this semester, each coming from different backgrounds.
Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services, said he is very pleased with the performance of the directors so far.
“Each one, in their own ways, has looked at the issues in their units and are moving forward with great progress,” he said.
June said the directors have also taken initiative to welcome themselves to the community, but he thought Monday’s event would help since all three were together.
Ruel, who has lived in Kansas for years but grew up in Ohio, said coming to MSU is like being home.
“I feel like I’ve really been welcomed well,” she said. “We’re seeing a great change for the better despite recent tragedies.
“But these tragedies allow Student Life to step forward and help students to think internationally and understand the changes.”
Ruel said she hopes to reconnect the Department of Student Life to students and to other departments at MSU. The department offers a variety of services for students, such as job opportunities and resources for student leaders.
“Basically we are trying to better meet the students’ needs,” she said. “There really isn’t too much we’re not doing and that’s the fun part.”
Sanders-Lawson said she has also received a warm welcome from co-workers and other members of the MSU community and she was previously at MSU for four years as a graduate student.
“I think it’s going very smoothly,” she said. “People have been absolutely wonderful and understanding.”
She has been involved in education for almost 20 years after serving as a school counselor, assistant principal and principal in North Carolina.
The Office of Supportive Services provides one of the largest tutorial programs on campus and offers undergraduate research programs.
“After being away from students for the past four years, I am very happy to be having contact with them again,” she said.
Bishop comes to MSU from a smaller university - Syracuse University .
Although his career at MSU is still young, Bishop said he thinks Career Services and Placement is well on track. The department helps students make career decisions, find jobs and become involved in volunteering.
“I feel like the staff is very ready to hit the ground running,” he said. “People here are just incredibly nice, it’s that Midwestern thing.”
