staff

It started with Akansha Singh’s ’23 babysitter in India, Rashmi, who struggled to find a job after completing school. Rashmi married at 17 and had a child, a daughter she does not plan on educating because of the lack of job opportunities available, Singh said. After working at a non-profit that educated women in rural areas of India for a year after high school, Singh, an Applied Data Science major, realized this experience was more pervasive than she initially thought. Around 67 percent of educated women in rural India are not employed, according to a 2015 United Nations report. Because…

Angie Makomenaw, mental health education and prevention coordinator, joined Wesleyan's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in January 2020. She talks about her goals in this new position, the uniquely challenging circumstances affecting students' mental health, and how CAPS is reaching and supporting students during the pandemic. You are Wesleyan’s first mental health education and prevention coordinator. Please tell us about your role and what needs on campus you were hired to address. This position was created out of an understanding of the importance of prevention in mental health. I am accountable for organizing initiatives for the Wes community in the…

To listen to Cliff Thornton speak with prospective students and parents is to feel included, even if you’re eavesdropping. Thornton is associate dean of admission at Wesleyan, covering a wide geographic and socioeconomic range: the South Central U.S. from Kentucky to Louisiana, Manhattan, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean. Having served these communities—and Wesleyan—now for more than 30 years, it makes sense that he would demonstrate an ease and fluency in his relations with so many different people from such different backgrounds. He’s had a lot of practice. But something unique about Thornton, which by many accounts…

An 18-piece all-star band, including five members of the Wesleyan community, will perform the Beatles’ Abbey Road album in its entirety during a benefit concert at Middlesex Community College (MCC) on Saturday, June 24, at 6 p.m. The concert is the third annual event held in memory of former Wesleyan Center for the Arts (CFA) intern Stephanie Nelson, of Middletown, who passed away in early 2015 at the age of 25. The first two benefit concerts, held in 2015 and 2016, raised more than $6,400 to establish and fund the Stephanie Nelson Scholarship at MCC, Nelson’s alma mater. Each May,…

On June 12, the Office of Human Resources hosted the third annual Faculty and Staff Ice Cream Social on Andrus Field and the Huss Courtyard. "This event provides us with the opportunity to enjoy a fun afternoon with colleagues and a way for all of us to kick off the summer months," said Julia Hicks, chief human resources officer. In addition to ice cream and sorbet, Wesleyan employees enjoyed popcorn and pretzel snacks, live entertainment with DJ Mario Torres (also a material handler in Physical Plant), raffle prizes, a tie dye t-shirt station, bingo, water balloon toss, volleyball, a block-stacking game,…

Sara MacSorley, director of the Green Street Teaching and Learning Center, is the author of Super Cool Scientists, a new coloring book celebrating women in science. It features stories and illustrations of 22 women in science and technology careers. Highlighting a wide range of diversity in scientific field, background, race, and more, it aims to show all young people that science can be for them. The idea for Super Cool Scientists came to MacSorley a little over a year ago, and launched with a successful Kickstarter campaign. “I had been looking for a side project that brought more direct science…

Laura Patey, associate dean for student academic resources, was featured in the newest book of the series, A Peace of My Mind: American Stories, by award-winning photographer and author, John Noltner. In his book, Noltner drove 40,000 miles across the country to ask people the simple question, “What does peace mean to you?” This resulted in the stories of “58 people from diverse backgrounds, who share stories of hope, redemption, and forgiveness, paired with compelling color portraits.” Patey’s personal story highlights the peace she has finally found with embracing her own identity, with a focus on her experience adopting her…

The Office of Human Resources announces the following hires and departures for May 2016: Newly hired Zijia Guo was hired as prospect research analyst in University Relations on May 2 Philip Huntington was hired as electrician in Physical Plant on May 2 Noah Barth was hired as program manager in the Center for Prison Education on May 4 Amber Jones '09 was hired as psychotherapist in the Counseling Center on May 9 Diane Widger was hired as Peoplesoft analyst programmer on May 18 Scott Shea was hired as assistant director of Wesleyan events and conferences on May 31 Departures Kaiser Aslam,…

The Office of Human Resources reports the following new hires and departures for April 2016: Newly hired Deborah Katz was hired as a marketing director in University Communications on April 1. Anthony DeMarco was hired as a boiler tender in Physical Plant on April 11. Departures Toria Bobbitt, research assistant in biology Joseph Hopkins, boiler tender in Physical Plant Pamela Tatge, director, Center of the Arts Sharon Washburn, administrative assistant, Creative Writing

The Office of Human Resources reported the following new hires, transitions and departures for the month of February 2016: Newly hired Laura Paul was hired as interim director, Center of the Arts on Feb. 1 Robert Perdo was hired as plumber in Physical Plant on Feb. 1 Marla Zubel was hired as acquisitions editor at Wesleyan University Press on Feb. 1 Kelly Miller was hired as dispatcher in Public Safety on Feb. 6 Transitions Amy Bello was hired as administrative assistant in AFAM-CAAS/Mellon Mays on Feb. 1 Mary-Ann Matthews was hired as officer in Public Safety on Feb.15 Departures Robin Bogda, medical billing specialist in the Davison…

A group of Wesleyan staff members is forming a "close-knit" community over crocheting and crafts. Dubbed the Wesleyan Society for the Preservation of Domestic Technology, the group held its first meeting Jan. 6 in Usdan University Center. Participants gathered for one hour for crafting and camaraderie. “You provide your own lunch and supplies, and we provide an environment fostering whimsy, creativity and technical facility in the traditional craft arts,” said group creator Nate Lerner, director of university events and scheduling. “All campus crafters are welcome!” Lerner brought a cross-stitch project to the gathering. "This is a scene from the Miyazaki film…

Student, Two Staff Members Receive 2023 Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Awards

Makomenaw Focuses on Resilience Building, Prevention in Student Mental Health

Thornton Leaving Legacy of Student of Color Recruitment at Wesleyan

Wesleyan Musicians “Come Together” in All-Star Beatles Tribute Band for Third Annual Benefit Concert

Faculty, Staff Mingle, Play Games at Ice Cream Social

MacSorley Authors New Coloring Book Celebrating Women in Science

Patey Featured in A Peace of My Mind, a New Collection of Stories

Staff on the Move May 2016

Faculty, Staff Celebrate End of the Semester at Ice Cream Social

Staff on the Move April 2016

Staff on the Move, February 2016

New Society Provides Creative Venue for Wesleyan Staff