Staffing changes are underway in Waynesburg University’s Pathways Center, where positions are merging and facing redesigning due to current shortages. 

Located on the ground floor of Eberly Library, the Pathways Center provides academic support, career development, disability services, and more to both undergraduate and graduate students. 

According to director Dr. Sarah Bell, the Pathways Center is down to six full time staff this semester after three have left their positions. 

“A significant thing for undergraduate students is that Katlin Denny, Academic and Career Support Counselor, is going on maternity leave,” Bell said. “She works primarily with student athletes doing academic support, as well as some of the bigger career support, like the business fair that we hosted. She also does resume reviews and talks about internships.” 

To fill her place for the remainder of the fall semester, former counseling center director Jane Owen has stepped into the role. 

“I worked at Waynesburg for 39 years and I had retired in May,” Owen said. “When Sarah asked if I would be interested, I thought it would be fun. I’m used to requirements, I know what students need, and I love working with students. That’s my favorite part of the job.” 

Owen officially started the role on Oct. 19th and encourages students to work with her.

Another major change for the Pathways Center has been the departure of Disability Services Coordinator, Sarah Feldberg. According to Bell, temporary accommodations are still being handled by the rest of the team when requested, but academic support meetings are on pause until someone new is hired for the role. If students need to contact Disabilities Services, they are still able. 

“We’re encouraging people to reach out to the disability services email because it will make it easiest with the transition. It will help us, so nothing is falling through the cracks,” Bell said. They hope to hire someone for the Disability Service Coordinator position by the spring. 

The role of Graduate Writing Center Coordinator will also be unfilled starting in late October, with current coordinator Kari Hanlin stepping out of her position. The Graduate Writing Center works differently than the Undergraduate Writing Center. 

“At the undergraduate level, we have peer tutors who do appointments,” Bell said. “At the graduate level, we have a professional staff member who handles the appointments for the master’s and the PhD students.”

As Hanlin steps out of the role, Undergraduate Writing Center Coordinator Sarah Scott will fill it temporarily. The Center plans to hire a new Graduate Coordinator for the spring. 

Despite all the staffing shifts, the Pathways Center is still encouraging students to reach out when needed. 

“Everything’s business as usual in terms of how students might reach out or how we might handle appointments,” Bell said. “We don’t always have to be the person to answer the question, but we do pride ourselves on knowing who can help the students or who can answer the question.”