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Photo Credits: Silverstein: Sam Rosen-Amy ’08; Franklin: Ben Rutkowski ’09 |
New Directors for Blegen House and ALANA Center
Recent changes in the Office of Campus Life have brought new directors to both Blegen House and the ALANA Center this fall. Julie Silverstein (pictured left), the new assistant director of campus life/LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) programs, has already been working to form a leadership council and create new programs with the Blegen interns. “The most rewarding aspect of my job so far has been working with students who are very motivated, energetic, and have fantastic programming ideas,” said Silverstein. Blegen House is the campus center for LGBTQ communities and social education. Silverstein comes to Vassar from the University of Connecticut, where she recently completed her graduate work. Silverstein will serve on various committees and plan events through the Office of Campus Life as well.
The same is true of Greta Franklin (pictured right), the new associate director for campus life and the ALANA Center. In addition to duties in campus life, Franklin oversees ALANA programs and the center, which works to enhance the academic, residential, and campus life experiences of African-American/Black, Latino, Asian-American and Native-American students. Franklin arrived in Poughkeepsie from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she worked as the multicultural group’s student counselor and assistant director for the Student Transition Program. Franklin believes the support of faculty and alumnae/i greatly benefit students’ personal, academic, and career development and is interested in working more with these groups.
Silverstein succeeds John Schoonbeck, who retired, while Franklin follows Yolanda Ramos ’96, who left her position to begin a master’s degree in social work.