Martin Oversees Student Employment, Counsels Families on Financial Aid Issues

This year, The Wesleyan Connection will feature conversations with students who perform important work all over campus, and out in the Middletown community. In this issue, we speak with Sean Martin, senior associate director in the Financial Aid Office, who oversees student employment. Q: Sean, please tell us about your role as senior associate director in the Financial Aid Office. A: I’ve been working in the Financial Aid Office at Wesleyan for going on 10 years, and my responsibilities there have expanded over time. One aspect of my job is overseeing all facets of student employment. I spend a good…

The Campus Activities Committee sponsored the 3rd Annual Taste of Middletown, an event offering samples from 15 local restaurants and hotels including Typhoon Asian Cuisine, Sweet Harmony Bakery, Lyman Orchards and more. The event took place on April 30 in Beckham Hall and included a raffle prizes. More than 225 Wesleyan faculty and staff attended. Employees were encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to Amazing Grace, a food pantry located in Middletown. "Amazing Grace is grateful to all of our employees who donated a whopping 227 pounds of food and an additional $80 in cash," said event organizer Olga Bookas, director…

David Low '76, associate director of publications in University Communications, is the author of a short story titled "Elevor," published in the Spring 2014 literary magazine Solstice. "Elevor" is about a young Chinese American woman living and working in Manhattan who suffers from claustrophobia and has several surprising adventures around the city. In addition to his many articles in Wesleyan magazine, Low's fiction has appeared in the Ploughshares Reader, American Families, Under Western Eyes: Personal Essays from Asian America, Many Lights in Many Windows, and Mississippi Review. He is a recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the MacDowell Colony and…

Wesleyan faculty and staff participated in a College Readiness Summit March 19 in Usdan. Throughout the day, the participants developed a detailed inventory of all on-going initiatives that improve college readiness of Wesleyan students, youth in Middletown or Middlesex County, or youth in the United States. Several participants who are involved in college readiness-related programs at Wesleyan made short presentations. They discussed their program’s mission, goals, target population, program approach and content and staffing. The event was coordinated by Ruth Weissman, vice president for academic affairs and provost; and Cathy Lechowicz, director of the Center for Community Partnerships.

On Feb. 7, the nearly-completed Kleen Energy power plant in Middletown exploded during a natural-gas purging procedure. It was a tragedy for the community that shook the earth in Middletown and beyond. The explosion caused the death of six people and injured more than 12 others. Soon after the explosion was felt, Wesleyan’s administration offered to support rescue efforts in any way possible. Middletown officials quickly requested that Wesleyan activate its Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) and have them assist at the explosion site. Over the next few hours, C-CERT team members Cliff Ashton, director of Physical Plant; Stacy…

Between now and Earth Day in April, Wesleyan employees who seek greener ways to commute to campus will have the opportunity to earn rewards through the Earth Day Commuter Challenge 2010: "Race to the Finish." The event encourages all forms of green commuting including carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting, biking, walking and taking the bus, and is projected to eliminating more than 140,000 vehicle trips state-wide. This level of participation would result in 5,000,000 fewer miles of driving and the elimination of 2,000 tons of emissions. "Our hope is that the Earth Day Commuter Challenge will encourage employees to get out of…

The next AFCA meetings are from noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 17 and Jan. 19 in Usdan 110.

Q: Wendy, how many years have you worked at Wesleyan? A: I've worked at Wesleyan 10-and-a-half years. I started at WesShop and worked there two years. I've also worked at Summerfields, a half year at MoConn and a half year the Davenport Campus Center in food prep. I've worked here at Usdan in The Martketplace since it opened two years ago. Summerfields had a very homey atmosphere, but the best part about working here in Usdan is that I get to meet more students. Q: What hours do you work? A: I'm here 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through…

Q: Ariel, when were you hired at Wesleyan? A: I started at Wesleyan in October 2006. Q: As the manager of University Relations Information Services, what information do you oversee? A: I manage our data services staff to ensure data integrity throughout our database. We have a database of over 150,000 constituents consisting of alumni, parents, corporations and foundations and friends of Wesleyan. My area is responsible for processing all the gifts we receive as well as all the biographical data we maintain on people. Q: What type of information do you keep track of? A: Each constituent has their…

Q: Jenny, in November 2008, you became Wesleyan's first digital asset and project manager for University Communications. How would you describe this role? A: I am in the process of setting up and maintaining a digital repository of photos, logos, and other digital collateral that is used in the University Communications Office, and other offices on campus. I’m also a photo editor, meaning that I respond to photo requests, do color correction, handle stock photography, and schedule photographers for events. Q: If someone, say from the Office of Admission, needs a photograph of student activity for the department's website, how…

Martin Oversees Student Employment, Counsels Families on Financial Aid Issues

Faculty, Staff Sample Local Eateries at Taste of Middletown

Low’s Short Story Published in Solstice Literary Magazine

Faculty, Staff Participate in College Readiness Summit

3 Staff Members Retire from Olin, Science Libraries

Campus CERT Team Assists Middletown with Disaster Response

Wesleyan Participates in Earth Day Commuter Challenge

AFCA Provides Fellowship, Support to People of Color

Wendy Norton: Enjoys Meeting Students in Lunch Line

Ariel Marzouca-Jaunai Manages Biographical Data, Gift Processing

Fields ’03 Maintains Digital Repository of Photos, Logos