Updated: June 16, 2025, at 1:33 p.m.
At least three senior officials from the Division for Student Affairs have left the University in the past two weeks, according to web archives.
Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership David Bonilla-Ciferri and Director of Student Involvement Meredith Bielaska announced their departures from GW on LinkedIn, and Assistant Dean of Student Life Brian Joyce is no longer listed in the directory. The departures — which brought the office from 11 to 8 people, according to web archives — come amid growing staff concerns over a University-wide pause to merit-based salary increases, reported delays filling vacant positions and a potential return-to-office mandate.
Bonilla-Ciferri cited low salaries and insufficient career advancement opportunities as reasons for leaving the University in an email to The Hatchet, and Bielaska said on LinkedIn that its okay to recognize when your workplace “isn’t aligned with who you want to be.” Joyce did not immediately return a request for comment.
University spokesperson Julia Garbitt said the University does not comment on “internal HR matters” or staff departures.
Officials have not posted a job listing for any of the three positions as of Friday.
Garbitt said DSA is committed to “enhancing” student experiences by providing inclusive spaces, programming and other opportunities that encourage student connection, growth and well-being.
“DSA’s resources remain available to the community, and we will continue to ensure staffing support and uninterrupted service for students,” Garbitt said in an email.
On June 11, Joyce posted to LinkedIn confirming his departure from the University. In the post, he said his departure from GW and transition to a new professional opportunity allows him to reconnect with values he has had throughout his career.
“Throughout my career, my purpose has always been clear: advocating for students and building communities rooted in equity, belonging, and purpose,” Joyce said in the LinkedIn post. “This transition gives me space to reconnect with those values – to reflect, realign, and recommit to the work that has always inspired me.”
Joyce said in the post that he was “proud” of how he was there for students during challenging moments, and he said he is committed to center his work around students’ voices and well-being. He said he is “actively exploring” opportunities to lead either initiatives focused around students in higher education or “mission-driven organizations.”
“Here’s to new beginnings, staying grounded in purpose, and building what’s next,” Joyce said in the post.
Joyce joined GW as the director of fraternity and sorority life in August 2021, where he worked that fall to temporarily allow all first-year students to rush for recruitment to Greek letter organizations in the fall semester.
Joyce became the second-highest-ranking DSA official when he moved to the assistant dean of student life position in November 2022. In his role, he was part of DSA’s response to pro-Palestinian protests, including appearing at the pro-Palestinian encampment in University Yard in April 2024 multiple times and attending other pro-Palestinian protests since October 7.
In March, Joyce was one of multiple DSA officials who allegedly attempted to attend events hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine. The group was barred from hosting events on campus later that month after they refused to let Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs Debra Bright into an event and was suspended for a year in April for violating the terms of a previous conduct outcome.
Joyce also helped introduce a new advising system for student organizations in 2024, which placed organizations into four classifications or “paths” based on their funding, travel and space needs and helped determine the advising assignments student organizations received from DSA.
Bonilla-Ciferri announced his departure from GW via a LinkedIn post in late May. In a message to The Hatchet, Bonilla-Ciferri said he left the University mainly because of low salaries and a lack of career advancement opportunities.
“Ultimately, I think more GW staff members need to seek other opportunities unless GW significantly adjusts its salary structure and provides more opportunities for growth,” Bonilla-Ciferri said.
Bielaska, the former director of student involvement, announced her departure in late May in a LinkedIn post. In her post, she said she came to GW hoping it could be her “new home” but determined it “wasn’t meant to be.”
“Sometimes it’s ok to acknowledge when a job you accepted isn’t what you thought, and a place isn’t aligned with who you want to be,” Bielaska said in the post.
She has not started a new job, according to her LinkedIn, but she said in her post that she will continue to support students however she can.
“I’m looking forward to what is next, and the opportunities on the horizon for me within higher education,” Bielaska said in the post. “Until then, I’ll continue volunteering, coaching, and supporting students as best I can.”
Bielaska served as the Students for Justice in Palestine’s adviser for this past academic year. She also worked with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life in 2024 to launch the Greek Program Board, which sought to increase engagement among chapter members and promote Greek life to students not affiliated with any Greek letter organizations on campus.
Bielaska came to GW in July 2024, and oversaw leadership programs, like GW TRAiLS, Fraternity and Sorority Life and student groups, according to an email sent to Greek life members when she first came to the University.
Bielaska declined to comment further to The Hatchet.
This post was updated to reflect the following:
This post was updated to include a LinkedIn post made by Brian Joyce about his departure on June 11.
