I’m writing to share bittersweet news. I am stepping away from my role as the Assistant Dean and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to pursue new adventures in Greenville, South Carolina, and my last day at Lehigh will be Thursday, November 15, 2018.
I’ve been asked several times over by others to share my proudest moments and greatest achievements, and I’ve balked at the questions. Nothing we accomplish is singular, and no one ever got anything extraordinary done alone. My greatest achievements are the triumphs of those I have had the opportunity to serve (read: you) across my 6.5 year tenure at Lehigh. I am overcome with gratitude to have had worked with you all.
I’ll leave you with one final message, one I have shared many, many times over. Now more than ever, fraternal organizations need radical vision, leadership, and courage to further realign the experience we all value so deeply. There exists boundless potential for fraternal organizations, yours included, to promote a culture of excellence, advocate for social change, champion inclusion and equity, engage in controversy with civility, and develop globally-minded and conscientious leaders. Continue to challenge the process, think critically and limitlessly, idea and innovate, and employ sound judgement so that you might bring to fruition new ideas and opportunities to revolutionize the fraternity and sorority experience at Lehigh and beyond.
I believe (as I always have) that this community is up for the challenge. This community has a long-standing and proud history at Lehigh, and I look to you all to continue to lead the way forward and carry out your legacy in doing so.
Know that there are others at Lehigh who are as equally invested in supporting the fraternity and sorority community as I have been, and they’ll continue to support you in cultivating a meaningful fraternity and sorority experience. The OFSA staff, among many others, are strong advocates for you. Utilize them as a resource, and be open to their ideas.
-Ash
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Ashley came to Lehigh in July of 2012 as an Assistant Director in OFSA and was subsequently promoted to the role of Director in July 2015. During her time here she built very strong rapport with chapter members, alumni, parents, key campus partners and national offices in the furtherance of Lehigh’s goal to have a strong, values focused fraternity and sorority experience for our students. She has also been instrumental in maintaining a positive community after difficult chapter closures, and always putting students first in the goals of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. During her tenure as the director, the cutting edge accreditation program for chapters has been re-envisioned and improved and Lehigh University has been at the forefront of transparent communication concerning our Greek Community.
Under Ashley’s leadership the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has developed and executed the Advisor Academy where people involved in the Fraternity and Sorority Community come together to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and create synergy with alumni partners. She was also instrumental in re-visioning Base Camp to incorporate design thinking concepts and challenge students to think more innovatively and creatively about their fraternity and sorority experiences. Overall her tenure in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has been marked with an increase in engagement, educational programming, and individual touch points with students. This has paid off in a more values focused Fraternity and Sorority System that has more trust in the people charged with overseeing that area of campus life.
As an Assistant Director of OFSA, Baudouin was the first AD to have a dotted line to the CSO. She led the charge to develop intentional partnership between OFSA and the CSO, which led to the transformation of how service and philanthropy is embedded within our Greek community. Baudouin has advised several environmental SERVE trips, from the resort like locale of the Maine trip to some of the roughest and most rustic of all sites in the history of serve. Ashley is also an Ibis of Service Award winner, one of the most prestigious awards within the Community Service Office which honors a dedication to a lifestyle of servant leadership.
Stay tuned for additional details regarding staffing support as well as details regarding a search process to fill the Director role.