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New director brings leadership
How do student organizations successfully communicate with the higher powers? They go to the Director of University Organizations. At St. Cloud State, Margo Thomas has recently filled this position and she has come prepared.
"This is my area of expertise," Thomas said. "I have six plus years of experience in student activities."
Thomas took over the position on July 1 and she is anxious to meet all the students this fall. However, Thomas knows this job isn't exactly a breeze.
As the director, she has several duties to attend to. She starts her to-do list by working with all the student organizations on campus, which is quite a few. SCSU has over 230 student organizations, all of which are very active throughout the year.
Thomas would also like to work with leadership programs and expanding them. She also has plans to work very closely with Student Government and be an assistant to them. She also has some plans to work with the Greek organizations at SCSU.
SCSU is happy to have her.
"We feel very fortunate to have someone of Margo's caliber to work here," said Ed Bouffard, Director of Atwood Memorial Center. "We are particularly impressed with her leadership progress at Drexel and we hope to have something like that at St. Cloud State. We would like to incorporate the better parts (of her leadership plan) into our own."
Thomas' experience started when she was the Director of Student Organizations at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Penn.
There she worked for five years with both graduate and undergraduate students in their 125 recognized students groups.
She spent her time working with various issues, from finances to group management to crises. She also developed a leadership program that was very successful
Thomas is a 1996 graduate of Mankato State University with her bachelor of science in Marketing, and her masters in Counseling and Student Personnel. She is a Minnesota native and admits it was quite a change to live on the east coast.
While she lived in Philadelphia, Thomas had to get used to living so close to so many places, like New York and Washington, D.C.
"Sometimes it is very different. It took about two and a half years before it became like home," said Thomas. "Everything was so close together."
Of course, while on the east coast, the events of 9/11 made her remember her roots.
"It impacted my family. It was scary to live on the east coast," said Thomas. "I knew people who went (to the trade towers) and it was close to home." Her entire university was evacuated as well as the town. It gave her a new perspective of Minnesota.
"I miss the student population at the state institutions," Thomas said. "I worked with students who knew what they wanted right away. I like to work with students who go to institutions, those who are open to new experiences. The liberal arts-those who want to explore."
She anticipates working closely with SCSU and gearing up for the fall and all the new students.
"I haven't seen a lot of students," Thomas said. "I am looking forward to the fall , to get to know everyone.
She knows she has a lot to think about, but she remains positive and anticipates a successful fall. She has heard good things about SCSU.
"I have heard that there is a very active student body. They're participants," Thomas said. "I like students who are interested and have a conversation. Let's learn out of every avenue we can."
What else does Thomas have up her sleeve?
"I would really like to develop a leadership program for the campus, students, faculty and staff. I want to focus on improvements, possibly implement some of the Drexel Program," she said. "So that way the students can gain leadership skills. I want them to walk out with all the skills we can teach them. I want them to walk out as well rounded individuals."
SCSU is also excited about her plans.
"She created a wide variety of topic areas and offered them at the beginning of the year (at Drexel)," Bouffard said. "They had times and opportunities to choose a topic and throughout the year to work on it."
"I want to be a resource for all student groups on campus. I will point you in the right direction. I will give you an answer, even if it's not what you want to hear."
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