More Changes in Advancement

As the academic year draws to a close, the departures and changes in College Advancement appear to be continuing, with two additional employees recently informed they would be leaving the department. Phil Oswald, vice president for college advancement, has eliminated the St. Norbert Fund assistant director position, which is currently held by Heather Dachlet. He has also transferred Dr. Kelly Ball-Stahl, associate director for sponsored programs, out of College Advancement and into Academic Affairs.

Dachlet has served the college for over four years. Her primary responsibilities involved managing phonathons and other student-oriented programs, including the senior class gift. She learned of the changes from Oswald on Thursday, April 30.

Oswald later announced Dachlet's termination in an intra-departmental email. "I have made a tough decision to restructure the St. Norbert Fund program and have eliminated the position of Assistant Director effective May 29, 2009. Heather Dachlet has been a valued part of this division for more than four years and we are most grateful for her efforts on behalf of College Advancement."

The Times contacted Oswald for further comment but learned he would not be able to respond prior to the Times' publication deadline "due to business travel."

Dachlet, whose last day in the office will be May 15, said that the decision was unexpected, but acknowledged, "I don't think anybody ever works at any place where there is total job security."

When asked where she believes her salary will go in the future, she said, "I would only be able to make assumptions, but I would guess that it would go toward staffing dollars if they want to be doing something else in the department."

Dachlet has not yet found new employment, but was upbeat. "This is just another opportunity to go onto the next thing. I've met some incredible people here and made some great friends, and I'll always have that."

When asked how she feels about having to find new employment in the midst of a recession, she said, "I'm really not worried about it; I truly just go back to my faith and I know that God doesn't allow for anything to happen without a reason; and I am just excited to see what is next."

Dachlet expects that she will stay engaged with the college on some levels. "I don't have any hard feelings," she said. "I love going to the Big Band Snowball, so I imagine I will still be doing that." While she said, "It is never joyful to find out that a position is eliminated," she remains hopeful that the future will bring new opportunities for her.

The Times has also learned that Dr. Kelly Ball-Stahl and her position as associate director for sponsored programs has been transferred out of College Advancement. Ball-Stahl will now report to Dr. Robert Rutter, associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, within the division of Academic Affairs. As the Times went to print the nature of Ball-Stahl's duties was not yet known.

"I have no idea what Phil's plans are for the department," stated Dachlet. "He wouldn't necessarily have different goals [than former vice president Mark Jones]; climates are always going to change if you work with new people; but the main goal remains to make money."

Dachlet and Ball-Stahl's transitions are, respectively, the sixth and seventh departures from College Advancement since the beginning of the calendar year.

In a related development, the departures of College Advancement staff in Main Hall have opened up opportunties for others. Bridget O'Connor, vice president for enrollment management and communications, and her Executive Secretary Mary Beckers will soon be moving to the advancement area on the third floor of Main Hall.

According to sources in the two divisions, O'Connor will move into a corner office once occupied by former Associate Vice President for College Advancement Dennis Day, whose position was terminated earlier this year. The same sources indicate the rationale for this shift is to free up O'Connor's space in the Admissions Office for the new Executive Director of Enrollment and Marketing while moving O'Connor's team into space in Main Hall made available as a result of terminations and resignations in College Advancement.