St. Kate’s reorganizes the Office of Student Affairs, Equity, and Belonging after summer staffing upheaval
By Ella Tracy
Last April, St. Kate’s Resident Advisors Demand Change published a document describing concerns with their professional supervisors. In August, students returned to a very different Campus Life.
An internal investigation was launched by campus leadership in April to verify the claims made in the Resident Advisors’ document. On May 20, President Marcheta Evans emailed the student body announcing that “the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Equity and Belonging are now a standalone division: the Office of Student Affairs, Equity, and Belonging, which will be led by Dr. Jackie Font-Guzmán.” During this period, 4 professional staffers were let go from the University. Numerous others chose to resign over the summer.
Two communications sent on August 7 and September 4 detail those who resigned from their positions, and those who have been hired to “fill out the org chart.” Digital copies of the communications can be read online at stkateswheel.org.
Student groups have conveyed a sense of uncertainty and instability in the midst of these changes. Important student activities such as orientation, Welcome Week, club chartering/purchasing and SEEK were left without their normal pro-staff point people. Staff from across the university stepped up to assist when the vacant Campus Life positions were not filled over the summer.
Mariah Lossing's office in the Student Center for Activities.
Moving forward, Dr. Mariah Lossing, former director for Student Accessibility and Accommodations, is serving a year as the interim Dean for Student Affairs. Lossing asked that all questions related to student clubs and organizations be directed to her. Lossing’s office can be found in the Student Center for Activities.
Font-Guzman said that they are still in the process of rehiring for 4 positions: “Campus Res/Life Director (search ongoing), two Community Residence Coordinators (search ongoing) and Dean for Equity and Belonging (search scheduled for Sept./Oct. 2025).” A new Program Manager Coordinator for Student Engagement and Leadership begins in their role on Sep. 22.
Font-Guzman also said that they plan for these positions to be filled by the end of the semester. They plan to stick to the structure redeveloped over the summer, which Font-Guzman said will allow them to “communicate more clearly and consistently with [students], respond more quickly in times of need, create spaces where every student feels valued, supported and empowered and anticipate challenges and remove barriers to [student] success.” Font-Guzman added, “The restructuring moves us closer to our vision of being a truly student-ready university — a place that meets you where you are M and walks alongside you as you grow, lead and thrive.”
