Megan Frisque. Photo courtesy of southwestern.edu
Sebastian Andion. Photo courtesy of facebook.com
Rapid changes are occurring at The University of Tampa and it’s not just the construction going on around campus or the newness of the school year. Four staff members of the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement have chosen to resign. The four staff members leaving are Megan Frisque, Jennifer Powell, Kim Northup and Sebastian Andion.
Frisque, who is the former director of Community Engagement and has been at UT for about five years, went back to the place she worked before coming to Tampa: Southwestern University in Texas. She will be stepping up into the position of associate vice president for Alumni and Parents.
Powell, who was the coordinator of Student Events, left UT after just over two years to move closer to her family in the Midwest and work as the assistant director of the Student Union at Valparaiso University in Indiana. There, she will work with 60 students (versus the 30 or so at UT), including five professional staff students.
Northup, former director of Leadership Engagement has made a decision to get her doctoral degree, which, of course, will consume most of her time, energy and attention. Her long-term career goals depend on her obtaining her doctorate, with an aggressive deadline staring at her already.
Finally, Andion, previous staff assistant, is moving back to the area he and his family call home: Washington D.C. Hoping to stay until the end of the semester at UT, Andion was presented with a job opportunity he found to be ideal for him and his family’s current situation.
Tim Harding, associate dean of Career Development and Engagement and now the Student Government adviser, is someone who has worked closely with the OSLE staff. He said that what they left is a legacy that was built upon those who became before them.
Jenn Powell. Photo courtesy of Jenn Powell
As for the future of OSLE and the lag time between hiring new people, Harding said, “Each of the departing staff has been diligent in developing transitional plans so that we can maintain the programs and services that are important to UT students and the University.”
Powell is confident that things will run the same. Though she has already left, she knows the staff are well trained; she trained them herself thoroughly. She is proud of the staff and University for stepping into new roles, especially the students. One particular student, Ryan Day, has worked closely with each of the four OSLE staff members.
“We’re having to rapidly adjust to the mass changes occurring in the office that we do most of our business through,” Day said. With new advisors, resources and relationships being made quickly, Day says they are fortunately working out well.
Despite losing four OSLE staff members, Harding said, “The hiring process for all four positions are successfully in full motion with a pool of very promising candidates for each position.” The search committees are made up of students, faculty and staff, and the campus community will also have a chance to provide their input. Day also serves on the search committee and says they hope to have the position filled by the end of the semester.
Harding views the change as a way to “assess goals, strategies and approaches” and is excited about the future. He added, “We strive to unselfishly support employees in following their career paths; even if it means that they have to leave UT.”
Kim Northup. Photo courtesy of facebook.com
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