Who’s Whoooo Profile – Lil Burroughs, Director of Operations, Campus Safety

What I do: I manage the operations of the Campus Safety departments at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges.

• My favorite song: “I’m the Lucky One” by Amy Grant
• Dream vacation spot: Hawaii
• Favorite dessert: Chocolate cake
• Best things about Bryn Mawr: The students that take self-governance seriously and want to make a positive change in our ever changing world.
• Best thing about Campus Safety: Once you get to know us we are the most down to earth people on campus. We care about our job; we love getting to know students! Mostly, we want all of our students to be safe.
• BMC club/activity I’d like to join: Spin class on a regular basis
• How I practice self-care: I enjoy going to the gym
• Best safety tip I received: Always travel with a buddy. This means don’t do things by yourself, especially outside and away from home.
• Favorite thing about my job: I do something different every day. Plus, I get to meet so many great members of the College community.
• Favorite spot on campus: Cambrian Row. It has the best view plus I enjoy watching the birds and butterflies.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Spending quality time with my partner and friends.
• Little known fact about me: I love Broadway and the Philly Theater. You can also catch me checking out the Philly Pops.
• My secret talent: If you ask my friends they will tell you they like to talk to me about stuff. I guess I like to listen.
• On my summer to-do list: Summer is supposed to be a time for me to clean up my office–it hasn’t happened yet….

Who’s Whoooo at Bryn Mawr – Profile of Deb Alder
Learn a little bit about Coordinator of Access Services Deb Alder:

• What I do:  I am the coordinator of services for anyone on campus who has a learning, physical, medical or psychological disability. My job is to ensure that these individuals have access to all aspects of our campus community, but, especially, to books and materials for classes as well as to the facilities.  I also provide academic support to a small group of students.
• My major in college: Special Education (undergrad) & Clinical Psychology (graduate)
• Favorite book:  I love to read so I cannot possibly pick one favorite!  One of my favorites from childhood is Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.  However, I am particularly drawn to mysteries and biographies.
• Dream vacation spot:  the Swiss Alps
• Favorite memory from freshman year:  Just hanging out in the dorm with my friends…
• Favorite dessert:  chocolate ice cream
• Favorite spot on campus:  Merion Green
• BMC club/activity I’d like to join: any a cappella group (but, first, I’d have to be able to sing, which I can’t!)
• Tip for freshman year:  Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Who’s Whoooo at Bryn Mawr – Profile of Stephanie Nixon (Pensby Center)
Stephanie Nixon serves as Assistant Dean and Director of Diversity, Social Justice & Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator for the College.  She works in the Pensby Center, which is home to diversity and inclusion programs, leadership programs, and international services and advising.  This summer, she will be facilitating Tri-College Identity, Equity and Social Justice Institute (Tri-Co), a pre-Customs academic and leadership program focusing on identity, power, and social justice. If you’re not participating in Tri-Co, you will get a chance to meet Stephanie during Customs Week, when she will present sessions on the topics of diversity and consent and sexual assault on college campuses. These sessions include the Customs diversity conversations, the presentation on Title IX, the “Speak About It” group discussions, and more sessions during the first-year Wellness program. Stephanie is an incredibly dynamic and engaging presenter and her energy is contagious as is her passion for Bryn Mawr and social justice.

• What I do: I work with diversity and social justice initiatives on campus like the Diversity Council, Diversity Leadership Group, supporting the Alliance of Multicultural Organizations, advising the Community Diversity Assistants, and Spectra Gender and Sexuality Education, and Tri-Co and Dimensions of Diversity social justice retreats among other programs. I also serve as the coordinator of the College’s educational efforts around sexual harassment and sexual assault and support reporting and follow up processes related to our policies.
• Favorite book, song or movie: Favorite book is a tough one as I am an avid reader and bounce between non-fiction and fantasy and sci-fi. One of my favorites is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, although I must admit to having a lot of favorite books.
• Best things about Bryn Mawr: Self-governance and commitment to challenging Bryn Mawr to constantly evolve into a better version of itself.
• Best thing about Pensby: Pensby is a great place to explore new ideas and to complicate existing understandings of ourselves and our communities.
• Tip for the first year at BMC: Take a risk and try something new just for the fun of it!
• What I like about working with new students: I value the chance to learn from all students constantly, and I appreciate the new perspectives and questions the newest members of our community bring.
• Favorite thing about my job: I am so blessed and privileged to work in a role that aligns with my values and brings me learning and meaning each day.
• Favorite spot on campus: Almost anywhere outside on a warm and sunny day.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Spending time with my partner, my dog, my family, and squeezing in time for reading, watching soccer and knitting.
• If I were an animal, I’d be: My dog, Cleo. She has kind of a sweet life.
• My secret talent: Like all superheroes, I feel I must keep my powers and my alterego secret to protect those I love.
• Nickname: Snixon

On my summer to-do list: Reading in the sunshine, urban hikes and time with family (see above).

Who’s Whoooo at Bryn Mawr – Profile of Vanessa Christman, Assistant Dean and Director of Leadership and Community Development
This week you’ll get a chance to get to know a little more about Vanessa Christman of The Pensby Center.

What I do: I work to support individual growth and build community at Bryn Mawr. All of us at the Pensby Center are dedicated to making the College as inclusive a place as possible, while celebrating the diversity of our community. Much of my focus is on small cohorts of students, but I work with everyone from individuals to foundations.

My majors in college: Drama and French

Favorite song: I have a soft spot for Leo Brower’s “Afro-Cuban Lullaby,” Prokofiev’s “Overture on Hebrew Themes” and anything by Gershwin. But I also like new music, especially if you can dance to it!

Dream vacation spot: Morocco

Favorite memory from my first year at college: Being cast in a play, and becoming part of a close community within the college.

Favorite dessert: A bite of something someone else is having (Just ask my kids!)

Favorite spot on campus: The view of campus from the second floor of the Pensby Center

BMC club/activity I’d like to join: Rhythm and Motion or Pulso Latino

Favorite way to start the day: Walking with my husband and our dog in a nearby park (after coffee, of course!)

Tip for the first year at BMC: Look for activities and relationships that will support you, as well as for those that will stretch you.

ViAnna Bernard, Assistant Director of Residential Life

• What I do: I work closely with our Hall Advisors and our two Graduate Assistants to make the experience of living at Bryn Mawr as welcoming and engaging as possible! I am always here as a resource for students who have issues or questions arise relating to their room or roommates. I also oversee Project Dorm Room, which is a room design contest that takes place later in the fall semester.
• Favorite book or music: The Polar Express is my favorite story OF ALL TIME!  My favorite genre of music is country, but I will dance to ANYTHING and love just about all music.  I also have an unusual affinity for Meatloaf.
• Favorite Movies: Titanic, Dirty Dancing, Gone with the Wind, Forrest Gump, and Waitress. I generally enjoy any movie that makes me laugh or cry, but I also appreciate a good horror movie once in a while.
• Dream vacation spot: Somewhere with lots of snow and a crackling fire.
• Favorite dessert: Anything lemon!
• Favorite Quote: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'” -Eleanor Roosevelt
• Tip for the first year at BMC: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all need a hand sometimes, and you are absolutely never alone. There are lots of people here that want to help you, so all you have to do is ask!
• What I like about working with new students: Their sheer excitement about Bryn Mawr!
• Favorite thing about my job: It allows for a lot of creativity, and we actually spend most of our time in the office laughing. I am surrounded by amazing people each day I come to work.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Hunting for bargains at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores, decorating, playing with my nieces, cooking up a storm, having coffee with my mom and dad, trying new restaurants with friends, and organizing anything that will sit still long enough.
• Little known fact about me: I grew up in a farm family in a very rural area of South Jersey, and I loved every minute of it. I guess that probably explains the affinity for country music…

Who’s Whoooo at Bryn Mawr – Profile of Mary Beth Horvath, Director of Student Activities & Orientation

• What I do: As the Director of Student Activities and Orientation I strive to create a vibrant student community on campus. I oversee the Activities Assistants who help me plan a variety of programs to help students develop healthy and meaningful relationships with others, learn about themselves, and develop leadership and life skills. Many of those activities also help students take a break from their studies when they need it. The Activities Assistants also help students learn about Philadelphia and all the great places you can explore and fun things you can do in the city. I work directly with a number of student led clubs and activities to help them plan engaging events for the campus community to enjoy. I’m the advisor to Traditions and work closely with the Traditions Mistresses to help create a sense of community on campus. I also oversee the Customs program, our new student orientation program, and work with the Customs committee and Customs People to help new students acclimate to the College. Find out more about the Customs program by visiting our website at brynmawr.edu/customs.
• My majors in college: Music and Environmental Studies at Dickinson College
• Favorite movie: Grease!
• Favorite dessert: Strawberry Shortcake
• Favorite spot on campus: Campus Center
• BMC club/activity I’d like to join: WHRC, Social Committee, Film Series… I was involved in clubs like these at my undergraduate institution.
• Tip for the first year at BMC: Be open to meeting new people, exploring new interests, learning about other cultures, getting involved, and ask for help if you need it! Everyone is here to help you succeed in whatever you choose to do. Also, explore Philadelphia! Philly is a city rich in culture, with world class museums and restaurants, theater, sporting events, and so much more.
• What I like about working with new students: Their excitement, enthusiasm, and ambition!
• Favorite thing about my job: Working with and getting to know students and planning events for the community.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Running, crochet, reading, trying new restaurants, watching TV, spending time with my husband Bryan and cats Max and Sam.
• My secret talent: I make awesome breads and jams and recently began making a variety of baked goods. I crochet stuffed animals; you can find some of my crocheted owls in various offices around campus.
• Nickname:  MB
• On my summer to-do list: Plan a great Customs experience for the Class of 2021!

Exploring New Subjects

Greetings, new Mawrtyrs! Some of you may be coming to college with your heart set on a certain field of study, but I am sure many of you recoil at the thought of declaring a major come sophomore year. I was in the former group, with sights of getting my Ph.D. in chemistry. But I took a chemistry course my first semester and it was enough to make me want to never step foot in Park Science again. So, to those of you who are as good as declared and those of you who cannot imagine pursuing something into grad school, I urge you to explore your uncharted territory. Bryn Mawr has countless newfangled classes, from “Lesbian Immortal” to a class on life on Mars. Do not set any academic limits for yourself, because you may never get the chance to take a class on homosexuality in literature or planetary exploration again. Even better, Bryn Mawr has this awesome thing called “shopping week” during which you can attend any class that sounds interesting to you during the first week of classes, and, after sitting in, choose whether or not it is for you. I urge everyone to not discriminate against any subject until you have explored it, because one class this semester may become your major next year. Good luck, and most importantly, have fun!

–Jackie Spiering ’20

Choosing Classes

Welcome to Bryn Mawr Class of 2021! One thing you’re probably excited about is choosing courses because now, you finally get to have a say in what classes you want to take. This freedom is great, but it can definitely be stressful because there are so many choices. One way to pick, the most obvious, is pick something you like or that you’re interested in. By interested in, I mean something that you’re actually interested in, not something someone told you to do. If you don’t know what you’re interested in, that’s okay too! You shouldn’t be afraid to explore new things, even things you’ve never even heard of. Also, keep in mind the four Approaches to Inquiry that you have to fulfill, but don’t stress too much about it. After you choose your classes, you can still change them during the shopping period. There’s nothing to lose and everything is a learning experience! Good luck!

–Sandy Liang ’20

If you’ve made it this far, then it’s about the time you should begin preregistering for classes. There’s probably a little knot in your stomach that’s telling you that you have to get into a certain class. That it’s now or never, and there’s no room for mistake or messing up.

There’s your first mistake right there: thinking you can’t make a mistake.

There are plenty and by plenty I mean a TON of college students that entered school thinking they wanted to study one thing (signed up for all appropriate classes, prepared to get the best grades in said classes, etc.), only to find their passions lie in a completely different field.

With that being said, don’t freak out over classes too much. There’s a good chance that the classes you take first semester won’t matter much in terms of declaring your major. Also, shopping week is available so you can always drop a class you realize it wasn’t for you in the first place. So don’t stress out.

Speaking of how demanding college courses and academics can be, let’s talk about something that everyone is going to experience one way or another: Stress.

Stress is that thing that makes you want to shut out the world while simultaneously keeping one foot in the race. It’s something that we as a culture have become conditioned to accept. Life is filled with struggles and terrible problems, we can’t change this. But what can be changed is how we react and handle the issues that we are confronted with.

One thing that I was surprised about upon my arrival to Bryn Mawr was the level of attention that is brought to mental, emotional and physical health. One class in particular that stood out to me was Thrive, a required course during your first semester. Thrive provided an opportunity for myself and my peers to voice our strengths, struggles, and other vulnerabilities; something that I had never experienced before in an academic setting. No, not every session is going to be sweet and warm, sometimes you won’t feel like talking about your feelings or what’s been bothering you, and that’s okay.

It’s okay to not be okay and want to take time to focus on yourself.

Let’s be real: Sometimes, you’ve got to watch that feel-good movie instead of studying for that exam. Sometimes, you’ve got to put your emotional and internal well-being before the stressful demands of the outside world.

What? But how will that affect my future job and career goals? If I’m not studying then I’ll fail my classes, if I fail my classes I’ll get kicked out of school, If I get kicked out of school I’ll become a bum with terrible career prospects that lives at their moms house and takes care of her cats for the rest of their life.

Well, all of those things are possible regardless of whether you flunk out of school or not. Heck, aliens could land on Earth tomorrow, abduct you, thus preventing you from showing up to school and if you don’t come to school, then you fail by default. *shrugs*

Anyway, here are some facts about stress:

• Stress has been scientifically proven to worsen both mental, emotional and physical health if it is experienced too often

• Headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, heightened depression and anxiety are all common for those experiencing stress on the regular.

• It’s not fun.

Here are some facts about self care:

• Self Care helps you focus your values

• Allows you to take time out of your daily routine to focus on yourself, what matters, and put things into perspective.
• Ironically, the less you worry about the things, the easier it is to deal with them and do your best because your psyche isn’t clouded by anxiety or depression.

• It’s fun and harmless.

Life is filled with problems that naturally put a strain on you, but what matters the most is how you choose to deal with and recover from those issues.

Preregistration and choosing courses might seem intimidating or scary, but when looked at in the right way, it can actually be an exciting process! Many first-years mistake preregistration as a sort of binding contract and think that the classes they end up taking their first semester will end up dictating the entire course of their future academic career. However, as a first-year, signing up for (and taking) classes is really more of a chance to explore the multitude of options available to you and to hopefully learn more about the academic paths that interest you the most. Below are some tips for how to successfully tackle choosing your first courses:

• Keep an open mind. Even if you think you know which discipline you want to major in right now, don’t lock yourself into taking the prerequisites for that major right away; there are paths of study here that you might never have thought would spark your interest.
• Give some novel courses a try, even if you’re not sure you’ll like them. Your first few semesters here are a time for exploration. Take advantage of this time to figure out what really interests you.
• Don’t worry too much about getting your college-wide requirements (CC, SI, IP, ) out of the way in your first few semesters. If you take the time to explore various disciplines throughout your time here, they’ll take care of themselves by the time you’re a senior. It’s a good idea to keep them in mind, but don’t let them completely dictate which courses you end up taking.
• Have some variety in the classes you choose. You’ll have plenty of time to specialize later.
• Don’t overload yourself your first semester. It’s a time of adjustment for everyone, and a heavy course load can make an already challenging (though rewarding) time more stressful than it needs to be. That being said, make sure that you do take one or two courses that you know will challenge you. College is a time for great personal growth, and challenging courses that take you outside of your comfort zone will help you become a better student.
• Choose courses that genuinely interest you. Every discipline is “relevant” in some way, and all will help you to become a better thinker.
• Ask any older students you know about what they know about particular professors or departments. While the courses you choose are important, it’s equally important (if not more so) to consider the professor and the department you’ll be spending a good portion of your time in.
• Talk with your Dean! Your Dean is there to help you navigate through the sea of choices available to you.
• Breathe! You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Take this time to get to know yourself and the school better.

–Claire Petitt ‘19

Megan Kenny, Assistant Registrar

• What I do: Help students to register for classes through BiONiC, am the liaison for the graduate schools, and assist with graduation.
• Favorite book: My favorite book is Princess by Jean Sasson.  It was absolutely riveting!
• Dream vacation spot: Tahiti
• Favorite dessert: Anything with Nutella
• Best thing about Bryn Mawr: The leadership opportunities!  Students are really encouraged to step up and become comfortable as leaders.
• Best thing about the Registrar’s Office: We maintain the integrity of the College’s academic data (i.e. course info, enrollment data, grades) and are enthusiastic about our roles as data stewards. If a student ever has a question about her record, we are happy to look at it with her.
• BMC club/activity I’d like to join: The Badminton Club.  My family used to play very competitive badminton games at our summer picnics, so I got really good at the game.
• Tip for the first year at BMC: Review your unofficial transcript after every term.  It takes 2 minutes, so why not?
• What I like about working with new students: I enjoy hearing about where they came from and all the things they want to do during their time at Bryn Mawr.
• Favorite thing about my job: Getting to talk with students every day.
• Favorite spot on campus: The row of weeping cherry trees behind Rockefeller Hall.  They look stunning in April when they bloom for just a week.  I always make sure to bring my camera to work and snap a few pics.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Training my greyhound (see photo) in dog agility.
• If I were an animal, I’d be: A bird.  I’d love to have wings and fly.
• Little known fact about me: I once went on a free, brief hot air balloon ride – it was a thank you because the pilot landed in my backyard by accident!
• My secret talent: Flower arranging.  I took an elective class on the topic while in college and have been doing it for fun ever since.
• Nickname: Nix-nootz.  It means “darling little mischief maker” in the Pennsylvania Dutch language.
• On my summer to-do list: Going tubing down the Delaware River.

Kirsten O’Beirne, Registrar

What I do: The Registrar’s Office coordinates all aspects of course planning, registration and grading. I oversee the work we do with faculty and departments to gather course information and grading. We work with students around registration, doing the set-up in BiONiC and answering student questions during registration.  One of the things I do in particular is work with students on transferring credits from other Colleges back to Bryn Mawr.  So if you are ever thinking of taking a summer course, please come to see me!

• Favorite book or movie: I am a big Harry Potter fan (books and movies).
• Dream vacation spot: I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, and I would love to go there.
• Favorite dessert: chocolate chip cookies
• Best thing about Bryn Mawr: Bryn Mawr’s campus!  It is beautiful!
• Best thing about the Registrar’s Office: I like technology, but I would never want to stare at a screen all day. In the Registrar’s Office we use BiONiC to make things like registration more efficient so that we have time to work directly with student on other things.
• BMC club/activity I’d like to join: The BMC Greens!
• Tip for the first year at BMC: Ask questions!  You will hear about all sorts of things this summer and during Customs Week, but no one expects you to remember everything!  We are happy to answer questions.
• What I like about working with new students: The excitement and enthusiasm that new students bring at the start of the semester is contagious.
• Favorite thing about my job: I love Bryn Mawr! In the Registrar’s Office we work with faculty, students, administrative staff and alums so you can really see the mission of the College in action.
• Favorite spot on campus: My office – really, my office is awesome.  I also love the Taft Garden behind Canaday Library.
• In my free time, I enjoy: Reading, and doing fun stuff with my daughter.
• If I were an animal, I’d be: I’d probably be a cat.
• Little known fact about me: I’ve been to every state on the east coast and the west coast of the US, but only one state in between.
• My secret talent: I’m pretty good at trivia, as long as it isn’t about music.
• Nickname: Kir
• On my summer to-do list is: Vacation, vacation and getting zucchini to grow in my garden – I have checked them all off!

You finished high school. It’s done. You don’t miss her at all (at least I don’t). And you are never, ever getting back together. All those times you bit your nails over getting a good score on your SAT are done. No more waking up at dawn to get to school on time. Remember prom? What about stressing over your exams? Remember when you thought high school was going to be the most important part of your life? You no longer have that desire to be popular or well-liked, as you’ve realized it never mattered in the first place. You are starting a new chapter in life. Be excited. Be nervous. Be ready to do things you’ve never done before. Anticipate making mistakes, because you will. That’s just a part of life.🙂

One of the first steps to college life is actually arriving there, so don’t come empty handed and get ready to make your room as cozy as possible.

I’ve attached the dorm items list. I hope this becomes useful for you all as move-in day approaches. There were a few dorm items lists that went around when I was a first year but I always found myself having to make 2-3 trips to Target to get everything I needed. I believe this is the most cohesive list because it contains items that are essential for comfort as well.

2021 Dorm Items

Before you go, I’m curious: What was high school like for you? Did you like it? Hate it? Spill the tea.

As an incoming student, the list of ESem courses may seem daunting at first. The choice of which three to sign up for is even harder if you’ve heard some students say they loved their ESem, while others may not have liked theirs very much. The Emily Balch seminars make for a common experience for all incoming students, one that many find to be beneficial for themselves as well as their writing.

Each seminar’s topic is different from the next, so I would suggest that you read through each description and find the three that would interest YOU the most (not your parents, not your friends, but you!) – after all, you’ll be doing all the readings and writing papers on the topic! The papers themselves aren’t something to worry about. With regular meetings with your professor, you’ll have time to discuss and plan what you want to write. The papers themselves aren’t long and are focused on improving writing rather than being research intensive. ESem as a course places an emphasis on critical thinking and getting your words out as a way of improving, not so much focused on the mechanics of grammar. ESem is a learning process, one I hope you come to enjoy!

When I was visiting Bryn Mawr my senior year of high school, I would have to say that the traditions here really sold me. When you’re away from home, you want to feel welcomed wherever you are staying, and the traditions here do just that. Bryn Mawr really goes the extra mile to make sure that you have a home away from home. One of my favorite tradition has to be Lantern Night. The whole ceremony is amazing and well put together. Just make sure you don’t bring you lanterns inside! If you’re worried about any of the traditions, remember that you are never forced to attend any of the four traditions. Though they’re fun and welcoming, not everyone wants to participate and that is totally fine. We want to make you feel comfortable at Bryn Mawr. Somos familia, we’re family. Welcome to Bryn Mawr, the first tradition is Parade Night. See you then 😉

-Taysha Torres ’20