January 20, 2005

Profile: Wendy Metter

Associate director of student affairs, Kellogg School of Management

Stephen Anzaldi

Has gone from social work to recruitment to student affairs. Helped Kellogg students fulfill the Christmas wishes this year of more than 400 Evanston children.

Can you describe the road you traveled to Kellogg?

Out of graduate school I went to work as a clinical social worker at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I counseled hospitalized elderly patients and adolescent pregnant girls. But eventually, in an effort to maintain my sensitivity, I decided I needed to use my skills differently.

What do you mean?

In the cases of the teenage girls I counseled, many of them were victims of serious abuse, on top of being pregnant. After four years, I just burned out.

Where did you go?

I took a job as a recruiting manager at a law firm, interviewing, assessing and referring people. Then I moved on to Kellogg and began part-time, doing admissions interviews. I’ve moved up and have been here roughly seven years.

What do you generally do in student affairs?

I connect people to resources. I manage incoming student communications, advise student clubs, help with orientation and cultivate community affairs. I also assist students’ spouses or partners. I help them build resumes and networks so they can find jobs and volunteer opportunities of their own.

Do you have a favorite spouse-related success story?

Recently a student and his wife came here from Africa. They were having some difficulty finding a preschool for their daughter. A local school, known for its long wait list, had been looking to add more Northwestern families to its enrollment. Luckily the timing was perfect. It had an open space and a scholarship, and it even arranged for a taxi to drive the child to and from school at the beginning.

This year Kellogg resembled Santa’s village at the North Pole. How did that work?

A group of students, led by Heather Scott of Kellogg’s community service umbrella organization, Business with a Heart, worked hard with the Evanston family service organizations Y.O.U. and Family Focus, along with Oakton School, to fulfill the wishes of participating children. After collecting more than 400 Christmas wish cards, Kellogg students, faculty and staff picked an individual card and bought the corresponding gift. We also wrapped, addressed and delivered them. There were dolls, trucks, sports equipment, electronics and even Sony PlayStations. I was lucky to be able to help out.

There were enough people at Kellogg to buy all those gifts?

It was a fabulous community effort. There were actually too many willing Santas and not enough wishes. Others helped out by buying wrapping paper and materials.

You sound like the prototypical “people person.” Do you enjoy this work?

I am and I do. I just love helping people make connections.

Are you philanthropic?

I’m fortunate to serve on the boards of the Youth Job Center of Evanston and Housing Options for the Mentally Ill. As a recent graduate of Leadership Evanston, I also serve on the Leadership Evanston Alumni Committee.

— Stephen Anzaldi