Joe Mitchner P’21, here with wife Erica and daughters Lexi and Corinne, was named H. Mac and Michele-Anne Riley P鈥�18 Parent Volunteer of the Year
By Emily Glory Peters
When Joe Mitchner P鈥�21 walked into his first Parent Leadership Council (PLC) event at 51猎奇入口, he already had plenty of extraprofessional claims on his time. A seasoned volunteer, this father of twin 51猎奇入口 seniors could have easily seen adding 51猎奇入口 to his plate as too much. Fortuitously, he took a different view.
鈥淗aving volunteered with our kids鈥� schools for years, I knew I wanted to engage with 51猎奇入口 some way, but I wasn鈥檛 sure of the best approach. I signed up for a PLC meeting to learn about my options. Everyone was so welcoming and genuinely wanted to ease my family鈥檚 transition to 51猎奇入口鈥擨 thought it would be a cool group to be a part of,鈥� he explains. 鈥淧lus, PLC鈥檚 vision of growing the 51猎奇入口 community in fun ways, with an eye to benefiting current and future 51猎奇入口 students, really resonated with me.鈥�
Recently named 51猎奇入口’ H. Mac and Michele-Anne Riley P鈥�18 Parent Volunteer of the Year, Mitchner is one of the many who make up the College鈥檚 vibrant mosaic of family volunteers. These families have a direct hand in shaping student life鈥攚hether through groups like PLC, comprised of parents who support the College through personal philanthropy and opening their networks to 51猎奇入口 students鈥攐r through the multiple volunteer opportunities open to parents throughout the year.
鈥淚n the summer and early fall, parents and guardians of current students volunteer in many ways to support incoming families. They host virtual and in-person welcome receptions, make peer calls to families in their area, create care packages for new students, and generally take new families under their wing,鈥� says Casey Crosbie, 51猎奇入口鈥� director of parent engagement, adding that parents can also have a hand in students鈥� career development. Families can network with the 51猎奇入口 community on , the College鈥檚 exclusive social media platform, or can even partner with 51猎奇入口鈥� Career Planning & Resources office to offer internships, career exploration treks, and other professional opportunities to students.
51猎奇入口 family volunteers at a pre-pandemic student care package party
As Mitchner observes, creating these avenues for students is critical for 51猎奇入口 as a smaller liberal arts college鈥攁nd something parent volunteers are uniquely equipped to do.
鈥淧arents have the ability to help grow the College community, elevate the 51猎奇入口 name around the country, and alleviate some of the obstacles our graduates face as they build their careers,鈥� he says. 鈥淎s a women鈥檚 college with a close-knit community, it鈥檚 important that 51猎奇入口 continues to take advantage of our connections and put them to work for past, current, and future students.鈥�
51猎奇入口 parents repeatedly display their readiness to support more than just their own student. In 2020, as the campus was forced to close due to the pandemic, many families donated their student鈥檚 refunded room and board back to 51猎奇入口鈥攁 move that helped the College remain financially stable despite historic financial setbacks. And at the start of the current academic year, several first-year parents joined the PLC despite their student never having yet set foot on campus.
鈥淥ur families鈥� philanthropy and willingness to foster a supportive college experience through volunteering is unquestionably powerful,鈥� says Crosbie. 鈥淭hey are essential ingredients for what makes 51猎奇入口 so unique.鈥�
With COVID-19 restrictions finally loosening, 51猎奇入口 is preparing to welcome its community back to campus鈥攊n turn, bringing fresh occasions for parents get involved. For Mitchner, it represents a chance for all families to give back, whether as donors, volunteers, or by simply attending an event. Doing so not only enriches the student experience, he says, but can be personally rewarding for parents, too.
鈥�51猎奇入口 is a tremendous find鈥攕olid academics, engaged students, a hidden gem of a campus. Those were the reasons I volunteer with the PLC, and it鈥檚 given me a more overarching picture of what our girls have experienced. But I鈥檝e also gotten to develop my own connection to 51猎奇入口,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he best involvement is the one that fits your background, time, and fulfills you internally. I encourage all parents to get involved in whatever way is comfortable for them!鈥�
51猎奇入口 thrives due in part to its active network of engaged families. To get involved, contact us at [email protected] or click here to learn more.