Dean Sue is back.
Suzanne Wasiolek, former dean of student development, is returning July 1 after a nine-month absence.
Wasiolek stepped down from her position in October, 1994, to pursue her law career with Maxwell, Freeman and Beason, a law firm based in Durham. Janet Dickerson, vice president for student affairs, asked her to return and assume a position created for her: assistant vice president for student affairs.
While Wasiolek will report directly to Dickerson, the details of her new position have yet to be worked out, Dickerson said. "We have not yet defined the full scope of her duties," she said. "We will do that in consultation with others in the division."
Regardless of the job's details, Dickerson said that she and Wasiolek have had a good working relationship in the past and said she is looking forward to her return.
"[Wasiolek] is very knowledgeable about students' interests and experiences and she has an excellent institutional memory," said Dickerson. "She has been loyal to Duke and effective in our division."
Wasiolek's return comes in the wake of an external review panel's criticism of communication within student affairs division. The report suggested that a lack of communication, particularly with students, was hampering the department's effectiveness.
While Dickerson said that she and Wasiolek are planning to be responsive to those recommendations, they are not mandates.
"We are not obliged to view the report as a prescription for action," Dickerson said. "We are expecting to increase our effectiveness in the ways suggested by our own strategic plan as well as by our external consultants' reports," she said.
Despite what she characterizes as an exciting and enjoyable stint as a law associate, Wasiolek said that she returned because she missed interacting with students.
"I have found very clearly that the part of my life in the last 15 years that has been most important to me were the students," she said. "Maybe my time off helped me realize that fact."
Through her absence, Wasiolek has stayed involved in University life by advising both Alpha Phi Omega, the national service fraternity, and the undergraduate mock trial team.
"My heart is still with the students and working with them," Wasiolek said. "[Dickerson] made it very clear that I will have a high level of contact with students and that's what excites me."
Ellen Plummer, director of the Women's Center, who has worked closely with Wasiolek in the past, said that her return to the University will be an asset to the institution.
"Her knowledge of the history of the [student affairs] division and how the [Women's] Center fits into the division's mission--both for student advocacy and for student direct services is of great benefit," she said.
Wasiolek has great devotion to students, faculty and the institution as whole, Plummer said. "She believes in Duke's tradition as an excellent university and makes every effort to contribute to Duke's continued success."
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