An email sent to Elon University faculty and staff by Jon Dooley, vice president for student life, outlined new changes for one of the largest administrative divisions on campus.
As of June 1, the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life merged its functions with the office of Student Involvement. Dooley said recommendations by the Presidential Task Force on Social Climate and Out-of-Class Engagement played a role in this merger.
“We have created a new department focused on campus involvement, community traditions, leadership and organizational development, fraternity and sorority advising and student activities,” Dooley said.
The restructured department will keep the name “Student Involvement.” Dooley says the merger will provide strong leadership development experiences and seek ways that fraternities and sororities can partner with other organizations and university departments.
“National headlines remind us that this has been a challenging year for the fraternity movement,” Dooley said in a message to fraternity and sorority leaders on May 1. “Here at Elon, the next several years will be critically important as we seek to continue the transformation of the sorority and fraternity experience to more closely align with values such as scholarship, leadership, service and community.”
Janis Baughman, assistant dean of students and director of student involvement, will lead the department. Jordan King and Jenny Ciesiulka have been named associate directors of Student Involvement.
Also beginning this summer, some functions of the office of the Dean of Students such as health promotion, SPARKS peer education and substance education will move to the Koury Center.
Callie Kelly, coordinator for wellness, will be responsible for these areas, which will fall under the department name, “Campus Recreation and Wellness.”
In addition to new departments, there will be changes to department leadership. MarQuita Barker, formerly assisant director residence life, will be promoted to Director of Residence Life, effective at the beginning of July. She will replace Uchenna Baker, who will be leaving Elon on July 3.
Rev. Joel Harter will also be taking on a new leadership role as associate university chaplain and the director of the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.
Harter will provide leadership and oversee staff and programs in the Truitt Center, including Jewish Life, Catholic Campus Ministry, multifaith initiatives, Muslim Life and various affiliated ministries and student groups.