Meet the Board of Directors

The Wildcat Welcome Board position is a top-level leadership role integral to the planning, coordination, and execution of the programs and activities associated with Wildcat Welcome. The Board is comprised of ten members who work closely with the New Student and Family Programs professional staff. Duties and responsibilities of Board members will serve to help maintain the functions of the Wildcat Welcome program. Board members have served at least one year as a Peer Adviser for Wildcat Welcome.

Meet the 2012 Board of Directors

	Ahsin Azim started his Wildcat Welcome career serving as a Peer Adviser in 2010 and 2011, and now he is so excited to serve as the Director for Weinberg on the 2012 Board of Directors! He is currently a junior American Studies and English Writing – Creative Nonfiction double major. In addition to his role in Wildcat Welcome, Ahsin is the External Programming Co-Chair for the Global Engagement Summit, Campus Campaign Coordinator for Teach For America, Research Assistant at the American Bar Foundation, and member of the Bhangra Dance Team. The Chicago native enjoys writing, eating, visiting new places, and learning about different cultures.
	Aaron Praiss is delighted to be serving on the Wildcat Welcome Board of Directors as the Director for Bienen School of Music after serving as a Peer Adviser in 2010 and 2011. From St. Louis, Missouri, Aaron is currently a junior at Northwestern with a double major in Violin Performance and Biological Sciences. His life is evenly split between music and science, whether it be rehearsing and performing with the NU Symphony Orchestra or working in a Sensory and Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory at Feinberg School of Medicine. Aaron enjoys exploring Chicago, going to concerts, trying new food, and of course, everything about Wildcat Welcome!
	Breanne Boyd is so excited to be part of the amazing Board of Directors as the Director of the Transfer Student Experience after serving as a Transfer Peer Adviser in 2011. A Cincinnati native, Breanne is majoring in Political Science with minors in Business Institutions and Integrated Marketing Communications; she is hoping to pursue a career in public relations after graduation. In addition to her role on the Board, she is involved in Associated Student Government, Dance Marathon and Greek Life. Outside of Wildcat Welcome, Breanne loves to spend time baking cupcakes, running, and exploring Chicago!
	Hayley Gleeson has served as a Peer Adviser for the past two years, and is beyond excited to be part of the Board this year as the Director of Parent and Family Experience. Originally from London, England, she is now a junior at Northwestern majoring in Psychology and minoring in History and Global Health Studies. When she's not in class, working at the Office of Undergraduate Admission or mentoring a fifth-grader through the YMCA, Hayley enjoys arts and crafts, traveling, baking and PostSecret.
	Jonathan Gobrial began his Wildcat Welcome career as a Peer Adviser in 2010 and again in 2011. He is continuing his journey with Wildcat Welcome as the Director of Marketing and Recruitment for the 2012 Board of Directors. Jonathan is currently a junior, double majoring in Biological Anthropology and Science in Human Culture; he aspires to be part of Teach for America after finishing his years at Northwestern. Hailing from the warmth of Santa Monica, CA, he enjoys many water sports, is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, and a sushi fanatic. Along with serving on the Board, Jonathan serves on the executive board of his fraternity, the productions crew for Dance Marathon, and works for SafeRide.
	Kate Mattax is so excited to be on the 2012 Board of Directors as the Director for School of Education and Social Policy after serving as a Peer Adviser in 2010 and 2011. Kate is a Social Policy and Spanish major; she hopes to work in education policy and continue using Spanish after graduation. She is originally from Springfield, MO and loves traveling back home to visit family, teaching through Peer Health Exchange, and enjoying downtown Chicago.
	Parker Murphy is a junior Dance major in the School of Communication and is exploring a double major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. He is thrilled to be taking on the role as the Director for School of Comm for Wildcat Welcome after two years as a Peer Adviser. Originally from Colorado, Parker loves anything involving the outdoors. On campus, he is an active member in New Movement Project, dances with Graffiti Dancers, and produces dance and theater shows.
	Katie Radtke is ecstatic to be serving her second year on the Board of Directors, acting as the Director of Staff Training and Dynamics , after serving as a Peer Adviser her freshman year. Currently a junior, she is majoring in Spanish and receiving her teaching certificate in Secondary Education at Northwestern; she recently returned from study abroad in Barcelona to improve her Spanish language for her future career. A native of quaint Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Katie loves sunshine, NUMB, the Green Bay Packers, and, of course, Wildcat Welcome!
	Elena Schneider is thrilled to return for her third year with Wildcat Welcome as the Director for the Medill School of Journalism. In both 2010 and 2011, she served as a Peer Adviser. As a junior, Elena is majoring in journalism and hopes to pursue political reporting after graduation. The North Carolina native loves all things Southern -- cheese grits, the Avett Brothers and clear blue skies. When she’s not dreaming of warmer weather, she’s usually drinking coffee at Peet’s or watching reruns of Friends with friends.
	Kevin Wang served as a Peer Adviser in 2010 and 2011 and is thrilled to serve on the 2012 Wildcat Welcome Board of Directors as the Director for the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. Kevin is a junior studying Biomedical Engineering and is planning to go on to medical school after graduation. In addition to Wildcat Welcome, he serves as a one-on-one mentor at the YMCA and leads physics workshops as a GSW (Gateway Sciences Workshop) facilitator. Kevin hails from Indianapolis, IN and enjoys spending his free time longboarding, singing in the shower, and browsing Reddit.

Board Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

Each Board member holds a Director position for a specific entity of Wildcat Welcome and works with other Board members to successfully execute all Wildcat Welcome-related events. The positions include each of the six undergraduate academic schools, Staff Training & Dynamics, Parent & Family Experience, Marketing & Recruitment, and Transfer Student Experience
Assist with implementation of Winter Welcome.
Assist with general Family Weekend duties, as assigned.
Attend weekly Board meetings during winter and spring quarters and all staff trainings.
Recruitment of Peer Advisers.
Supervise a group of Peer Advisers, acting as a resource and mentor.
Lead a section of the Peer Adviser Leadership and Training course during the spring quarter.
Create recruitment materials for Wildcat Welcome leadership roles and events.
Remain in close communication with OPP Professional Staff and other WW Board members over the summer to assist with administrative tasks.
Return to Northwestern one week prior to WW to prepare for Fall Training.
Coordinate solutions to problems, issues, or emergencies during WW.