Beth Hellwig, one of three finalists for the dean of students position, addressed a group of faculty and students yesterday in the Dome Room of the Rotunda about how she could use her past experiences to accomplish her future goals if she is selected for the job.
Hellwig, who earned a doctorate in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Northern Colorado, discussed how her 32 years of experience in higher education and her various positions of leadership have influenced the way she interacts with students and the way she handles a position in student affairs. She has served as dean of students at Gonzaga University since 2000, previously working at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley as director of student life and at Colorado State University and Montana State University in a number of positions relating to student life and activities.
Hellwig explained that issues of diversity and multicultural awareness are critical to fostering an open, welcoming community and stressed the importance of avoiding isolationist tendencies that cause separations among races, particularly between white and minority students.
"When we talk about diversity, we are divisive; we talk about the other," Hellwig said. "We need to move to a sense of unity and have a sense of community on campus."
Fourth-year College student Wyatt Fore, co-chair of the Minority Rights Coalition at the University, said he believes Hellwig's approach to multicultural awareness and support is "very substantive and very direct, yet very personal and action-oriented."
Fore said he was impressed by Hellwig's address, noting, "it's very obvious that she has a lot of experience and can work effectively in student affairs."
Hellwig also highlighted another issue in student affairs: the importance of administrators not marginalizing students. She said beginning with orientation and continuing throughout the rest of their college careers, it is crucial for students to know they matter.
At Gonzaga, she said, making that personal connection was as easy as eating every day in the dining hall with students.
Hellwig said to accomplish this goal in such a large student body, she hopes to be a source of support and justice regarding sexual assaults by working with prevention strategies and programs, as well as with the University's judicial response system.
During her talk, Hellwig also touched on issues related to Greek life, student self-governance, student safety and the need to create guidelines for over-involved parents.
While the administration intended for the presentation to be an opportunity for students to ask the prospective dean questions, only two undergraduate students were in attendance, fourth-year Architecture student Patrick Lee said.
"The timing [of the talk] was not the best for students to begin with," he said, adding that "the University doesn't really advertise these things that well."
Christina Morell, assistant vice president for student affairs said, however, the Office of the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer sent an e-mail to all students informing them of the event.
Hellwig also noted her qualifications to work with the faculty in attendance at yesterday's presentation, saying that while working with students is her primary concern, she also can interact well with faculty and upper-level administration, acting as a good listener while remaining assertive as an advocate for student affairs.
In addition to her possible duties as dean of students, Hellwig expressed an interest in teaching a course if she has time to do so, noting this would provide an additional way to interact with students and faculty members beyond her administrative duties.
"I believe you can be so effective in the classroom if you do it right," she said.
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