A department operations manager of the Center for Student Engagement and adviser to the Student Association has left the University less than six weeks into the academic year.
Lisa Rocco, who held the SA adviser position since Associate Dean of Students Tim Miller stepped down from the role in May, is no longer working at GW, a University spokesman confirmed last week. Miller said in an email that he and Anne Graham, the assistant director of student involvement, will both advise the Student Association for the rest of the academic year.
University spokesman Kurtis Hiatt said in email last week that Rocco “recently left the University.” Hiatt declined to say why Rocco left and if GW would hire a new department operations manager.
Rocco joined the CSE nine months ago as department operations manager. Last spring, Rocco served as the adviser to the Joint Elections Committee, the organization that oversees student body elections.
Miller and Graham explained their transitional roles to the SA Senate at the group’s regular Monday night meeting. Miller said he and SA President Andie Dowd and Executive Vice President Casey Syron had been meeting regularly this year to stay on top of the SA’s progress.
Dowd declined to comment for this story.
“In the end, for us, the ultimate goal is to be of the best service to the students as possible. We felt like with Lisa’s departure, it made the most sense to be able to help transition the organization best for me to continue to support the SA,” Miller said at the meeting.
Miller also encouraged senators to approach him and Graham to talk through their ideas before proposing resolutions – something he has encouraged in the past.
In an email, Miller said Graham would serve as the only adviser to the SA during the next academic year. Graham has also served as a CSE program coordinator and played a role in the implementation of OrgSync, the website that student organizations must use to request SA funding this year.
“Anne’s role in the Center for Student Engagement and her experience and passion for student leaders will make her an invaluable resource for the SA,” Miller said.
