SALP brings in new assistant director

After serving as interim assistant director of Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) for the 2007-08 academic year, Natalee Webb was not hired to permanently fill the position. Dominic Thomas will become the new assistant director, following a decision made by SALP Director Aimee Shattuck on June 24.

Shattuck said she wanted to support all of her staff members in their career goals, and help them further their skills and experiences, even if that meant doing so elsewhere in the PSU community.

Dean of Students Michele Toppe said, beginning in autumn, Webb will be acting as the interim assistant dean of students, a position Toppe expects Webb to hold until the university can complete a search for a new assistant dean.

Student body President Hannah Fisher said the decision to not hire Webb as the assistant director of SALP was fully supported by the Associated Students of Portland State University. The group released a letter to Shattuck on June 1 declaring preference for Thomas over the interim director.

“Natalee…has repeatedly undermined the will and interest of the students,” the letter signed by ASPSU said. “We believe Natalee’s advising methods provide an impediment to the interests of the student body rather than bolster student concerns.”

Fisher said ASPSU members met regularly regarding the issue after it was announced in spring that Webb’s position was open for applications. Members of ASPSU attended interviews and Q&A sessions throughout the selection process.

The SALP assistant director position is, among other things, tasked with being an advocate for students across the university, advising student organizations, and developing resources and programs that support student learning and student organizations.

“Natalee has been in this position so long, it’s always better to have a fresh perspective when you’re trying to create change,” Fisher said. “Natalee just had so much institutional memory that it had the potential to be used selectively, and we really just wanted to start fresh this year with our advising.”

Shattuck said she took the concerns of ASPSU members into consideration, but that the letter did not overtly influence her decision between the two candidates.

“It’s not that I had never heard these concerns before,” Shattuck said. “There were also students who came to me and told me how much they loved Natalee and wanted me to keep her on.”

“I’m very excited,” Webb said in regards to the job change. “It’s an opportunity that I can’t pass up professionally. I’m super excited about the new opportunity that I have.”