President H. Kim Bottomly announced earlier this month that both the College’s Center for Work and Service (CWS) and the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs have recently undergone internal leadership changes.
The central mission of the CWS is to align students with meaningful internships, scholarships, fellowships and job opportunities. The Albright Institute, the brainchild of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright ’59, began in 2010 and is considered by many to be a trademark of a Wellesley education. The institute consists of a Wintersession program in January which focuses on interdisciplinary work and an international internship. Fellows then present their experiences at the Tanner Conference held every October.
Staff changes took place after internal reviews and are likely to continue as both programs expand. The College asked Joanne Murray, who has served the College through various roles such as director for the CWS and co-director of the Albright Institute, to head the Institute as the sole director. Kate Miller left the position earlier this year. Anne Dwojeski Santos will become the new program director of the Albright Institute.
Murray, whose focus on the Albright Institute has increased over the last two years, intends to expand the Institute by increasing alumnae and faculty participation. She sees the Institute as a platform for Wellesley to expand its global education programs.
“Because I have more time to focus on the Institute, I would like to enlarge its scope by creating vibrant global partnerships and additional opportunities for students and alumnae,” Murray said.
To fill Murray’s previous position, Beverly Lorig has been appointed as the the interim director of the CWS. A search for a new director will take place over the course of this year. Previously, Lorig served as the director of the career development center at Washington and Lee University, a position she held for 19 years. Lorig began her work at the CWS approximately a week ago.
“Both of these programs are central to Wellesley’s ability to provide students with experiences that will prepare them for fulfilling personal, civic, and work lives after college,” President Bottomly said in her announcement on October 2.
Current fellows were notified of Miller’s departure at the beginning of September and about the Institute’s new director, Murray, at the end of September.
Some current fellows of the Institute are not worried about the administrative changes affecting the nature of the program.
“I am definitely not worried. If anything these changes seem to be very positive since Joanne Murray will be fully concentrating on the Institute as its director and that can only make the Institute stronger,” Gabriela Guzman ’15 said.
Charlotte Benishek ’16 expressed a similiar opinion regarding separating CWS and the Institute.
“It will result in higher quality programs for both the CWS and the Albright Institute,” Benishek said. “I think we have enough of a combination of veteran and new staff that things will turn out fine.”
Photo by Soojin Jeong ’17, Photography Editor
