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September 30, 2005 > News > Hanszen forms RA search committee

Hanszen forms RA search committee

By Kirti Datla | Thresher Editorial Staff

Hanszen College has assembled a resident associate search committee to fill one of two RA openings at the college this year. Nancy Elliott, the RA living in the new section of Hanszen, announced she will leave her position as soon as a replacement is found. RAs Paul Sutera and Jen Kaufman, who live in the old section of Hanszen, will leave the college at the end of the academic year.

Hanszen formed an eight-member search committee — composed of two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshman — Sept. 19. The committee held its first meeting Wednesday, Search Committee Chair Tom Gray, a senior, said.

Although Sid Richardson College is also holding an RA search, Gray said he does not anticipate any problems finding an RA.

“While it is likely we may have some overlap in our applicant pool, past experience with the master search committee tells me that because each of the colleges has its own personality, it is very likely that Sid’s favorite applicant will not be the same as ours,” Gray said.

Gray said the committee will look for a new RA with similar qualities to those that have made Hanszen’s current RAs successful, as well as for people who will work well with other members of the college, including the masters, college coordinator and other RAs.

“The current RAs are amazing,” Gray said. “The biggest thing they have taught me is that an RA needs to be enthusiastic but also approachable in case of any problem.”

Gray said college members can submit suggestions for RAs. Once the candidates have been narrowed down, Gray said he would like the finalists to come to Hanszen events to interact with students. Gray said the committee will solicit feedback from non-committee members at Hanszen.

Elliott, the Facilities, Engineering and Planning business services coordinator, began her term as Hanszen RA in the 2002-‘03 academic year. Elliott said she decided to resign because she needs to focus on other aspects of her life.

“I think it had been coming for some time, but it just sort of gelled recently,” Elliott said.

Hanszen junior Mary Niemann said she would like the committee to find a similarly approachable RA.

“I want the search committee to look for somebody who can reach a broad range of the community,” Niemann said. “I hope that whoever replaces her will have that same sense of general community that she did.”

Hanszen sophomore Sarah Brandenburg said Elliott was skilled at conflict mediation.

“[Elliott] was really good at listening to you and helping you see the other side,” Brandenburg said. “I had a lot of roommate trouble, and every time we would go talk to her, she was really emotionally available for us.”

Elliott announced her decision to resign Sept. 14 in an e-mail sent to the Hanszen listserv. Sutera and Kaufman, who are expecting their first child in March, announced their decision to leave in an e-mail sent to the Hanszen listserv Aug. 20.

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