Schmitt Quad Saint Xavier University
As the new school year kicks off, Saint Xavier University (SXU) welcomes several new staff members here on campus. In areas like campus life, student life, and career development, new hires have been implemented to the Saint Xavier community.
Most notably, SXU welcomed a new president to its hallways in early spring of the 2023 school year. Keith Elder, PH. D., MPH, MPA, became the University’s 22nd president on March 1 of this year.
Students noted that he became heavily involved with student and campus life from the very first day he started his time at the university. Former interim president Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D., led the search for a president following Dr. Laurie Joyner’s departure in July of last year.
Xavierite Editor-In-Chief, Emma Gabrys, interviewed Dr. Elder in late March of this year about his intentions for the university as he enters the position. “We have to make sure the students are happy with the product and environment in which they are studying” he stated.
Saint Xavier recognizes several new hires featured on the SXU employment page. These hires are featured in all areas of the university, some including admissions, academics counseling, career development, and student life.
Giuliana Islas, an SXU alumnus, is one of the new hires for student life, and holds the role of Orientation and Belonging Coordinator of Student Life. As a graduated alumnus of the university, Islas was heavily involved with Saint Xavier’s campus life when she was previously a student here.
Just last year, she was promoted from Vice President to President of Student Government Association (SGA), the President of Drama Club (as well as a founding member), won several scarlet and grey awards in the spring semester, and was an award-winning writer at Xavierite Newspaper. This new role will work closely with the on campus RSO’s and clubs offered at the university as well as being heavily involved in Student Life.
Islas graduated from the University this May. She notes that a week after her graduation, she was interviewing for the Orientation & Belonging position.
“I loved my time here as a student so much that I realized I wanted to continue being a part of this community,” remarks Islas. She notes that through her new position, she hopes to create a bigger sense of community among students.
Islas oversaw the Registered Student Organization (RSO) re-registration process, where each RSO had to register their organization within the university, at the start of the school year.
Islas will assume her role within student life and oversee the RSO events. Notably, Islas will begin her activity on campus with the first major event of the year, the RSO Fair.
Islas says, “this year’s RSO Fair will look different than in years past. The RSO Fair is going to be a day of unforgettable fun for students to get to know each other and sign up for student organizations they want to be a part of. There will be light snacks and music.”.
She urges students to keep an eye out on The Den, where events hosted by Student Life are posted frequently. “I hope that through my role in Student Life, RSOs can feel more comfortable hosting events, and are overall able to increase their participation,” remarks Islas.
Student Life is looking to organize fun and new events for students that will look different than previous years. Another young hire entered the hallways of Saint Xavier, also part of the student/campus life branch.
Adrian Hernandez joined the Saint Xavier community at the end of the 2023/2024 school year. His role falls under Student Life and specializes in advising the SGA and the Resident Assistants (RA) for on-campus living.
Hernandez expressed, “what drew me to Saint Xavier was the job itself. It allows me to do many things I take most interest in such as: leadership, involvement, personal growth, and advocating for others”.”
Hernandez also remarks that his primary goal here is to assist Student Government with advocating for students, as his experience lies in Student Government in his own college career.
The halls of SXU will always have new faces, but these new hires are hoping to make fundamental changes to better their students’ lives.
For more information pertaining to Student/Campus Life contact studentlife@sxu.edu.