Bastyr Welcomes Susan Weider, New Dean Of Students

Enduring the challenges of a year-long, around-the-world bicycle tour did not win Susan Weider, MSed, the position of dean of students for Bastyr University. But it certainly helped prepare her for it. Surviving the rigors of exploring the world under one's own steam and stamina requires the same strength and tenacity needed to be an effective dean of students, especially one hired to replace Sandy Voit, Bastyr's popular and long-standing former dean of students.

"I am aware of the challenges of coming in with my own style and perspective," Weider says. "But everyone's been very generous and welcoming. I'm not attempting to fill Sandy's shoes -- no one could. I want to take the strong foundation he built and continue to develop the programs from there."

Weider's most recent role as the associate dean of students/director of housing for Linfield College (OR) provided her with ample opportunity to develop student services programs. "My goal there was to bring in something new each year," says Weider. Since she was there nearly a dozen years, this meant the inauguration of numerous programs and projects, such as establishing a student judicial board similar to Bastyr's honor board. "Overall," she says, "I tried to create more opportunities for student involvement in the college."

This is now one of her primary goals at Bastyr. In everything from use of university space to school government, graduation and alumni relations, Weider wants strong and plentiful input from students across all departments and programs. "I want the entire university to feel a part of the process," she says.

While Weider wants to increase student involvement and decision making, she also wants to offer students the tools that will help make that possible. Says Weider, "I'd like to give our student leaders and volunteers the education and background they'll need to be successful in their roles."

Weider is impressed with the caliber of Bastyr's students, their enthusiasm and their keen dedication. "Some are here under great financial challenges, so they want to be here," she says. "They have a passion and a vision which are unusual compared with a traditional liberal arts college."

Aware that this unique vision can get battered in the competitive world outside Bastyr, Weider has already spoken with Erica Hockley about preparing students for life after graduation. "I talked with her about her idea of finding mentors and providing educational programs for graduates transitioning into the workplace. Whenever possible, I would like to have alumni come back and help with various programs and events on campus. This way students can benefit from a shared experience with alumni as well as with their fellow students."

Weider's ability to switch gears and take advantage of good opportunities has allowed her to develop her career in student services. While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Weider had planned on attending law school or earning a doctorate in history. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in history from Simpson College in Indianola, she was unexpectedly invited to stay on as the college's head resident for the dorms. Although she'd already been accepted into the history and law program at the University of Iowa, she chose to stay on at Simpson. After two years in student services at Simpson, she enrolled in the higher education program at Southern Illinois University School of Education, focusing on student personnel. "Student services just seemed to offer a more immediate interaction with people than law or history," she says.

Weider was able to put those interactive skills to work as the assistant director of resident life at Cornell College in Iowa. During her three years there she was in charge of all residence halls, student activities, weekend events and educational counseling with at-risk students. "It was very intense," she says. "I learned that you can never plan for every occurrence. It was a good introduction to applying classroom theory to real situations."

A friend first drew Weider's attention to the job opening at Bastyr University and she was immediately intrigued, especially since she'd grown up in a medical environment. "My father and my brother are pharmacists, and my mother is a nurse," she says, "so I wanted to learn more about the natural medicine taught at Bastyr. I researched it and found it so interesting. I saw the opening as an opportunity to work with students at a very different place in their lives."

Weider assumed the position of Bastyr University's dean of students on November 12, only one month before winter graduation. When asked how she's holding up in the midst of all the chaos and demands on her time, Weider laughs, then answers like a woman who bicycles around the world for the fun of it: "I'm doing all right, and I'm very happy."

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