The attendees learned about the new Advancing Student Affairs Strategic Plan, heard from student leaders, and had an opportunity to take tours of places on campus, including the Cordia Harrington Student Success Center, known as the CORD.
There were dozens of former staff at the event, which was held in the Fowler House Conservatory. Some of them had left to pursue careers at other organizations and some of them retired from their positions in the division.
“I wanted to see other retirees and reconnect,” said Mary Alice Serafini, “which was absolutely delightful.” Serafini retired in spring 2022 as assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs and executive director of the Pat Walker Health Center. She had been with the U of A for more than 30 years. She reflects on her time in Student Affairs as very worthwhile and working with great colleagues.
“I loved that there was continuous change that was a reflection of the momentum and mission of the University of Arkansas. The division’s focus on students, their needs, and the opportunity to serve, mentor and know them was an absolute honor to be a part of,” Serafini said. “My colleagues were professionals, always looking for improvements of themselves and their responsibilities.”
Serafini said she liked seeing the new strategic plan and organization and learning that similar initiatives of former students are either continuing or actualizing, including that graduate students are advocating for better stipends. She also really enjoyed seeing the CORD.
“The CORD Student Success Center truly reflects the University of Arkansas’s commitment to students,” she said. “The diversity and volume of support and opportunities with excellent staff and faculty is like a dream come true.”
Jim Conneely was the assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs who left in 2003 to take a position as the vice president of Student Affairs at Eastern Kentucky University. He was director of housing for several years at the U of A and helped plan for new residence halls.
He said the event was a great opportunity to reconnect with people that he admires and respects, to revisit the area he loved, and to see how initiatives that he and colleagues started have taken hold.
“I was just pleased on all the progress and innovation occurring. It was good to see growth,” Conneely said. “I was really pleased with the Northwest Quad (residence halls) that I started when I was working there. The reunion was a great event, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to attend. It made me feel valued for my contributions.”
John Berry worked at the U of A from 1990 to 2003 and was director of retail dining when he left the university. He is currently the director of philanthropy and member services at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Berry attended the event “to see friends that I worked with at the U of A and people that have moved on to other institutions or retired,” he said.
He has helped establish multiple scholarships for U of A students over the last few years and remembers how that all started with a phone call.
“I made a call to Marsha Norvell (administrative assistant to the vice chancellor for Student Affairs) and said ‘Marsha, I donate to my church and the arts, I have fond memories of the U of A, and would like to make a donation.’ This was the genesis of the Pride in Education Scholarship,” Berry said.
Marsha Norvell retired at the beginning of 2020 as the administrative assistant to the vice chancellor for Student Affairs. She worked for the U of A for more than 30 years.
“I came to see old friends and colleagues,” Norvell said. “It was wonderful seeing many people who I hadn’t seen since they left and catch up with them. I’m glad I was able to attend.”
“Being in Student Affairs was a great career with lots of meaningful accomplishments, from being a nationally recognized program to bringing new ideas and programs to the entire profession. And there were challenges like dealing with the beginnings of major campus growth, free speech issues, and more,” Norvell said. “I made lifelong friendships, and saw the development and growth of our students, and now seeing those students change the world after they leave our campus community – simply amazing.”
“I was fortunate enough to meet with Lyle Gohn last fall and hear his stories from his time as vice chancellor for Student Affairs. It reinforced how important community is among student affairs professionals and the need to renew that among current and former,” said Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “I enjoyed putting faces to names that I have heard from the past but hadn’t yet met, and it was great updating them on where we are heading with our Advancing Student Affairs strategic plan.”
