Leading By Example

Starting college is one of the most challenging transitions in life.

Administrators at the College of the Holy Cross understand that, and have developed a nationally-recognized orientation program — Gateways — designed to pave the way for students arriving on Mount St. James.

At the helm of Gateways is Brenda Hounsell Sullivan, director of the Office of Orientation, Transition, and Leadership. Her work at the College was recently honored by her peers at the National Orientation Directors Association Annual Conference in Dallas when she received the Outstanding Orientation Professional award.

“This prestigious honor is a direct reflection of your diligent service to our association and the dedication, hard work and commitment toward orienting, transitioning and retaining new students,” wrote Craig Mack, president of the National Orientation Directors Association, in a letter congratulating Hounsell Sullivan.

Francesca Bove ’07, who was a Gateways orientation leader for three years, nominated Hounsell Sullivan. Bove is now a legal advocate at Covenant House in Newark, N.J., through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. In her letter of recommendation, she wrote: “Brenda reaches out to all students so that she not only finds the natural-born leaders, but also finds the hidden gems that so many other people miss. Her willingness to take a chance on students makes her an advisor that does not just come in to get paid, but who truly cares about the well-being of each student. Her greatest strength, in my opinion, is working with students, and cultivating leaders. This is why our orientation runs so well, and why Brenda is so invaluable to Holy Cross.”

There’s something poetic about Hounsell Sullivan’s story. When she was a student at Western New England College, she was an orientation leader who eventually became a head orientation leader. She also comes from a family with a deep commitment to education and the quality of student life. Her mother was a dean of students at Quinebaug Valley Community College, and her father was a math professor at Manchester Community College.

Hounsell Sullivan came to Holy Cross in 2001, joining the division of Student Affairs as an associate director of Student Programs and Leadership Development.

“I have found a sincere passion in working with students, and making a difference in their lives,” she says of her career at the College.

Holy Cross holds orientation in both summer and fall. Summer Gateways is a one-and-a-half day program held in June, and offers incoming students an important introduction to living in the Holy Cross community. Fall Gateways, held over three-and-one-half days in late August, allows arriving students to get a jump-start on making friends, preparing for the academic challenge of college classes, learning about all the resources available at the College, and further exploration into how they can make the most of their time at Holy Cross.

“We get overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and students in which they report that our orientation program helps calm their nerves and introduce them to fellow students, faculty and administrators,” she says. “They love having the opportunity to experience a taste of Holy Cross.”

Gateways was run by the Student Programs office until 2006, when the College redoubled its efforts in providing students a smooth transition into college by expanding this area into its own office — which also has an important leadership component. Hounsell Sullivan is responsible for working with student orientation leaders.

“Holy Cross students are craving leadership development and looking for opportunities to build their skills,” she says. “This office helps meet those needs by working with both incoming students and with orientation leaders.”

At the core of both orientation and leadership development is the College’s mission statement. Hounsell Sullivan believes infusion of the mission into all aspects of orientation helps distinguish Holy Cross from many other colleges’ orientation programs.

“I think we really do a nice job of introducing our students to our mission at orientation,” she says. “Our student orientation leaders truly embrace the mission, and that work is life-changing for them. Our leaders are role models for what Holy Cross represents and that trickles down to younger students. I don’t see that across the nation. We have a genuine approach that is very hands-on.”

Through a series of programs, students who attend Gateways gain valuable knowledge about the College and form early bonds with classmates. Gateways also helps students to understand the expectations of being a Holy Cross student both inside and outside of the classroom.

A series of lively and informative talks, and an array of social activities, are behind the success of the Gateways program. Ice breakers; journaling and reflection; “Community 101,” where journal entries are shared; and a scavenger hunt are among the programs that help ease even the jitteriest students.

Testimony to the program’s effectiveness can also be seen in the high number of students — 100 — who apply to become orientation leaders each year. Only 20 are chosen out of that pool.

What does her professional award represent?

“This award is a tribute to the program,” she says. “I wouldn’t have success like this without the support of my colleagues and the great work that Holy Cross students do every day.”