Arcadia Welcomes New Student Affairs Staff

By Purnell T. Cropper | September 8, 2010

Arcadia welcomes two new staff members to the newly renamed Office of Student Engagement (formerly known as the Office of Student Activities), as well as a new area coordinator this fall.

Julie DiTrapano is the new Director for Student Engagement. “Julie joins us from Colgate University where for four years, she held various positions of increasing leadership and responsibility in the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement,” says Josh Stern, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. DiTrapano received her B.A. in Human Services with concentrated minors in psychology, sociology and French from Villanova University and her M.S. Ed. in Counselor Education/Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University.

Caitlin Mizanin, Arcadia Class of 2006, is the new Area Coordinator for Dilworth, Heinz and Knight Halls. “During her time as an undergrad at Arcadia, Caitlin was an active student leader, serving as a member of the Orientation Planning Executive Committee and President of the Residence Hall Council,” says Stern. Mizanin previously worked as a Residence Hall Director at SUNY Alfred and received her master’s in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.

Jessica Nix is the new Campus Activities Programmer in the Office of Student Engagement. “Jessica joins us from Westminster College, where she held Resident Advisor and Hall Director positions and received her B.S. in Biology with a music minor,” says Stern. Nix is enrolled in the master’s program in Counseling Psychology at Arcadia.

“Please join me in congratulating Laura and Meghan on their new roles and welcoming Julie, Caitlin, and Jessica to the Arcadia family!” says Stern.

He adds that several staff are returning in new roles this fall.

Laura Bickert, who spent the last three years as the Area Coordinator for Dilworth, Heinz and Knight Halls, is now the Housing Assistant working out of the Office of Residence Life. Bickert received her B.A. in English from Ursinus College and her master’s in Counseling, Student Affairs in Higher Education from the University of Delaware.

Meghan O’Meara, who spent last year with Arcadia as a Counseling intern, joined the Counseling Center staff as a part-time counselor. O’Meara is also assuming responsibilities for working with First-Year Seminar faculty and peer mentors during Ashley Friedman’s family leave. Meghan received her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware and her master’s in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University.