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September Staff Meeting recap 

Sarah Delaney Vero, general counsel and vice president for Human Resources, welcomed attendees to the first staff meeting of the academic year on Friday, Sept. 5.  

She highlighted the dedication of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø employees and affirmed ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø commitment to assessing and investing in the evolving needs of the workforce. Staff are encouraged to use the to suggest agenda items and questions for upcoming monthly staff meetings, which generally take place the first Friday of each month.  
 

Human Resources Update  

Julie Delay, chief human resources officer, introduced 37 new staff members. Delay highlighted ongoing Human Resources efforts to foster personal well-being and community connection. She encouraged employees  to mark their calendars for the fall Networking Breakfast, which will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30.  

Lovelyne Pierre, associate director of employee relations and organizational development,  shared information on forthcoming development and learning opportunities. Offerings will include: 

• Building AI literacy  
• AI for Mangers: Identifying Learning Opportunities
• Microsoft Skills Training  
• Bridging Generational Perspectives
• Resolving Conflict  
• Understanding and Increasing Emotional Intelligence  
• Leading for a Creative Future  
• Building Trust with Direct Reports  
• Everything DISC Assessment and Workshop  
• Public Speaking Skills

Delay also reminded employees of the LinkedIn Learning opportunities accessible to them via , and encouraged staff to share their suggestions for future resources.   

More information and registration details for these and other Professional Development and Training opportunities will be available on the HR website.   

Update on the Start of the Academic Year 

Jess Ricker, vice president for enrollment and dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, provided an overview of the incoming class:  

• ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø welcomed 692 first-year students and 20 transfer students, selected from more than 12,200 applications, making it among the most selective classes in College history. This year’s class reflects greater geographic diversity, with notable growth in students from the West and the South. Read more about the Class of 2029. 
• Admissions staff are now preparing for fall recruitment travel across the country and abroad, with a balanced plan to sustain ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Northeast presence while expanding outreach to new regions.  

Ricker extended special thanks to Chloe Jaleel, academic counselor and coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services; Subhan Ali, associate director of immigration and visa service; and Jamin Totino, associate dean of Student Affairs of The Learning Commons, for their dedication and resilience in supporting international students’ arrival on campus.  

Natalie Taylor, interim dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs, provided updates on summer actives and the start of the academic year. She highlighted the success of campus programs such as Jazz Fest and the completion of the Middle States Accreditation Self-Study draft.  

Adrian Bautista, dean of students and vice president for student affairs, reported that 2,275 students moved into ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø housing this fall. He noted that 438 new students participated in a pre-orientation program. 

Bautista reminded employees of important resources that support student success, including the Student Assessment and Intervention Group (SAIG), health and wellness opportunities at the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center, the Career Development Center, and The Learning Commons. 

He also highlighted upcoming opportunities for engagement, including Career Fest and the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion (OSDI) Block Party, both scheduled for Sept. 12.  

In It 10 

Joshua Woodfork, vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity, reviewed ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Diversity and Inclusion Statement. The statement was read aloud by Janessa Dunn, director of admissions, and staff members were invited to reaffirm it.  

Woodfork also reminded employees of important policy and infrastructure updates that support inclusion on campus, including the implementation of all-gender restrooms, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s name policy, and the support of employee affinity groups. 

Mariel Martin, Wyckoff Center director, then highlighted upcoming events in the In It 10 series, and encouraged employees to participate: 

• History Wall Unveiling – Sept. 19
• An Evening with Sweet Honey in The Rock – Sept. 26
• Land Acknowledgement and Meaningful Action – Oct. 8
• Dialogues on Black Dimensions in Art – Oct. 9

Engagement with President Conner: The Year Ahead 

President Marc C. Conner opened his remarks by expressing gratitude to colleagues across campus for their accomplishments in preparing for the new academic year. 

He acknowledged that this is also a time of change, both at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and across higher education more broadly. The president highlighted several key priorities for the College:  

• ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s strong commitment to speech and expression, freedom of speech, academic freedom, and embracing multiple perspectives.
• Continued focus on the new Strategic Plan, which affirms ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s distinctive role in liberal arts education.
• Maintaining financial equilibrium, including work with the Huron consultancy to identify efficiencies and guide planning.
• Opportunities for campus engagement, including an upcoming Budget and Finance Forum on Friday, Sept. 26. 
• The upcoming launch of two important leadership searches: a new vice president for advancement, which will be launched in the coming weeks, followed by a search for a dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs. 

The meeting concluded with Q&A session with President Conner. The next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct. 1. The full staff meeting schedule can be found online.