Given the departure of former director of the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life Buck Cooke in October 2011, the office will be welcoming Megan Janasiewicz as its new director on Feb. 27.

According to Dean of Students Bridget Guernsey Riordan, Janasiewicz was selected by a search advisory committee that consisted of Riordan, Executive Director of Residence Life and Housing Andrea Trinklein, Director of Student Conduct Eric Hoffman and Assistant Director of Student Life Natasha Hopkins.

Four students representing each of the governing bodies in Sorority and Fraternity Life were also part of the committee and included Goizueta Business School senior Seth Green, College senior Ben Hayes, College senior Kris Cole and College senior Elizabeth Liu.

Janasiewicz’s previous experiences demonstrate her qualification for the position, Riordan explained.

“She’s got a lot of strengths behind her,” Riordan said. “She’s worked at UGA and has had a lot of leadership positions from when she was an undergraduate at Florida State. She has also been to some of the best education schools in the country for student development — she’s a good fit for Emory.”

Janasiewicz, who received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her master’s degree from Indiana University, most recently served as advisor to the Panhellenic Council at UGA where she manages 3,800 Panhellenic sorority women.

Currently a part-time Ph.D student at UGA, Janasiewicz wrote that a position at Emory is a “great opportunity to progress professionally” while continuing her education.

“I am excited to work with a more diverse student population at a different institutional type,” she wrote. “It really will be the perfect fit for my own professional path.”

Although Janasiewicz wrote that she does not have immediate plans to make changes — having such an agenda, she added, is “problematic” — she noted that she believes change is a natural and necessary part of progressing community.

“I plan on spending my first few months getting to know the needs of the students and working with them to support their own positive change initiatives,” she explained.

Since October, the responsibilities of director have been divided among Riordan, Greek Life program coordinator Sarah Casavan and Residence Life and Housing intern Jillian Thaw.
Assistant Director of Student Leadership Emily Sankey helped with sorority recruitment during rush, Riordan added.

Already, Janasiewicz wrote that she feels welcome at Emory.

“I have gotten a lot of offers to meet for coffee,” she wrote, joking, “I am probably going to be highly caffeinated for the first few weeks.”

What Janasiewicz is looking forward to most, she wrote, is the Emory community, which she added that current students, staff, former administrators and alumni have spoke highly of.

“I am most excited to experience the sense of community that is so highly regarded at Emory,” she wrote. “I am honored to be joining such a vibrant and supportive community.”
News Editor Jordan Friedman contributed reporting.

— Contact Alice Chen.