Beyond the Residence Hall

Mary Triano is working to enhance the student experience

November 4, 2008

Office of Campus Life staff members (from left) Jane Harker, Joshua Lapps '08, Erica Gordon, Laurie Henry, Mary Triano, Dan Confer '02 and Annie Kondas.

Campus Life is evolving.

Operating out of recently renovated space in the lower level of the Holland Union Building, the Office of Campus Life has hired new administrators to work with students and staff to enhance students' academic and personal lives.

New hires in campus life (which encompasses residential life and student activities) include Mary Triano, director; Dan Confer '02, assistant director for housing and operations; Annie Kondas, assistant director for orientation, technology and student-organization support; Erica Gordon, assistant director for student-organization support, leadership programs and MOB advisor; and Joshua Lapps '08, conflict-resolution coordinator and resident-advisor recruitment, training and selection.

Enhancing the residential experience

Triano, who joined Dickinson after working in residential life programs at Arizona State and Syracuse universities, is eager to take on her new role of enhancing the residential experience on campus and in the Carlisle community.

"When President (William) Durden refers to residential life at Dickinson, he's not just talking about the residence halls," Triano said. "One of the most exciting aspects of my position is that we are working to create a student experience that blends academic, social and intellectual opportunities in the residential environment and through student leadership."

Triano gained leadership experience as a resident assistant at Elizabethtown College. After graduating in 1997, she earned a master's degree in counselor education at Penn State University. She remains focused in her belief that student experiences go "beyond the residential halls."

Change is coming

Triano said that she and her colleagues plan to work with campus and community leaders to develop more experiential leadership opportunities and programs.

"Changes will be coming. We're taking the opportunity to assess the success and impact our programs and services have," Triano said of existing campus-life programs. "Programs may be enhanced as a result. New perspectives and the diversity of professional staff experience give us an opportunity to think differently about how we partner with students."