After countless interviews and panels, which included administrators and student leaders, Loyola settled on Marcia “Cissy” Petty, Ph.D., as the new vice president of student affairs and associate provost.
Having spent seven years at St. Lawrence University as the Vice President and Dean of Student Life and Co-curricular Education, Petty felt drawn to Loyola post-Katrina.
“I really came because I felt like the New Orleans experience happens one time in your life,” she said. Petty expressed the feeling that right now, New Orleans has a sense of something bigger than one’s self.
In July, Petty moved from Canton, N.Y. to New Orleans to take the position previously held by Vicki McNeil. Petty said that although she is not Catholic, she felt that spiritually it made perfect sense to come to Loyola. If it’s meant to be, it’ll work out, she said.
When she arrived, Petty said she was moved by the energy on campus. Students were the convincing piece, she said.
“This is a really special place, because you guys make it special,” said Petty of the students.
With her suitcases came many ideas, though her first concern, she said, is to develop relationships with students and enhance Loyola’s sense of community.
Petty has many plans for Loyola, long and short term, with hopes of making the campus a more comfortable place – the new rocking chairs on the Danna Center porch were her idea.
At the heart of Petty’s plans is a desire to improve Loyola’s facilities. Petty is looking to make improvements to the Danna Center and the empty space on the first floor of Carrollton Hall hidden behind colorful butcher paper.
In October, Petty has arranged for Albert Filoni of Machlachlan, Corneilius & Filoni to look at the Danna Center and Carrollton Hall spaces in order to assist the university in deciding what can logically be done. Petty said, “(Filoni) is coming as a friend and visitor to the city and has agreed to take a look at the Danna Center and Carrollton Hall space.”
“President Wildes is committed to a new student center,” said Petty. Due to the university’s post-Katrina financial situation, she said she doesn’t “see that happening right off the bat.”
The short-term goal for the Danna Center is to make it “more welcoming,” Petty said. She then plans to work on a new student center altogether, though nothing is in the works yet.
As for the Carrollton Hall space, Petty envisions an “after hours” spot. She said she hopes to create a space where students feel free to grab something to eat and sit with friends in a warm environment.
Petty is also looking forward to working with Student Health Services on women’s health issues, Residential Life on refurnishing residential facilities and the book store. She is working toward getting library hours extended, which has become an issue, she said, because University Police doesn’t have enough officers to properly monitor additional hours. Petty said she and the library staff are committed to the students.
But, Petty said, these are goals for the future. For now, she is more concerned about learning about Loyola – its students and inner workings – and working with her staff.
Petty said that she is trying to build one relationship at a time. “Leaders build relationships,” she said. “I will spend a lot of time with students.”
Open sessions with student organizations are something Petty thinks will improve administrative relationships with students. She has already has met with Res Life, and hopes to have similar forums with the University Programming Board, Student Government Association and Greek community.
Keeping in touch with students and providing support is important to Petty. At St. Lawrence, she held dinner parties – she lived on a corner by the school – for student leaders to come spend time and express ideas and concerns, she said. Though she doesn’t live around the corner from Loyola, she said she would nevertheless commit time to students by being more available on campus.
Another way Petty has reached out to students is through “DP’s Dailies,” which students have been receiving via e-mail for a week. The dailies, which Petty said are meant to be “informal, positive and thought-provoking,” began at St. Lawrence seven years ago and became a “family joke” on campus. Petty said that the dailies helped her gain personal relationships with students and hopes that it will help her reach out to Loyola students, including commuters.
“If nothing else, I’ll know I’m successful if students can get an answer,” said Petty, who wants to move student affairs toward a more “student-centered” office. Petty believes that students can teach Student Affairs a lot.
As Vice President of Student Affairs, Petty oversees Res Life, the Danna Center and co-curricular activities, Counseling Services, Health Services, Career Services, recreation and athletics and New Student Orientation.
Coleen O’Lear can be reached at [email protected].
