Social Morale Committee
Stay up-to-date and get involved with the activities, opportunities, and recognition initiatives offered.
About Us
The Student Life Staff Social Morale Committee is dedicated to fostering connection, celebrating achievements, and boosting morale within our division. Throughout the academic year, we offer a variety of events, activities, and recognition programs, and we encourage all staff to get involved. Discover the different opportunities and their schedules below, and be sure to visit this website for the latest information.
Get Involved: Staff Social Morale Initiatives
Offers the opportunity to recognize Student Life colleagues for going above and beyond in order to solve a problem, be of assistance, build community, or generally enhance the overall Lewis & Clark experience. Nominated by their peers, every month a colleague will be recognized and receive a gift card. Additionally, the winner will be considered for the annual Student Life Awards at the end of the year. Nominators should select one of the three annual awards that best aligns with their nomination rationale. Recognize someone via this form!
Frequency: Once a month
Schedule: Typically the 2nd week of the month
Engagement Level: Low - engage at your convenience from your office, within specified deadlines
| Date | Recipient and Position |
| November - December 2025 | TBD |
| October 2025 | Fran Spann, Interim Assistant Director of Campus Living Operations |
| Sept. 2025 | Hailey Bossert, Temporary Director, Community Accountability & Conflict Education |
| Summer 2025 | Paola Dennis, Administrative Specialist, International Students & Scholars |
| Date | Recipient and Position |
| May 2025 | Jorge Orozco Roller, Graduate Assistant, Center for Social Change and Community Involvement |
| April 2025 | Lisa Kosiewicz Doran, Associate Director, International Students and Scholars |
| March 2025 | Maureen Gilbert Dispatcher, Campus Safety |
| February 2025 | CJ Cabungcal, Area Director, Campus Living |
| January 2025 | Thom Lehman, Logistics Manager, College Outdoors |
| December 2024 | Fran Spann Manager of Campus Living Operations |
| November 2024 | Andrea Salyer Director, Center for Social Change and Community Involvement |
| October 2024 | Gaby Herrmann Case Manager, VPSL Office |
| September 2024 | Hilary Martin Himan Chaplain and Director, Center for Spiritual Life |
| August 2024 | Melanie McManamon, Coordinator, First Year Experience |
| Summer 2024 | Nina Olken, Senior Associate Director, Career Center |
| Date | Recipient and Position |
| April 2024 | Jimmy Chau, Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach, Physical Education and Athletics |
| March 2024 | Michelle Callahan, Director, Health Promotion & Wellness |
| February 2024 | Carolin Thompson, Administrative Coordinator, Office of Student Accessibility |
| Dec. 2023-Jan. 2024 | Jared Kasten, Area Director for Holmes, Hartzfeld, and Apartments, Campus Living |
| November 2023 | Jessica Carron, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities |
| October 2023 | Brian White, Associate Dean and Director, International Students and Scholars |
| September 2023 | Gina Parisi, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Physical Education and Athletics |
| May - August 2023 | Andrea Salyer, Director, Center for Social Change and Community Involvement |
| Date | Recipient and Position |
| April 25, 2023 | Joann Zhang, Director, Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement |
| April 10, 2023 | Ben Meoz, Director, Campus Living |
| March 13, 2023 | Julia Pacheco-Cole, Area Director, Campus Living |
| February 27, 2023 | Paola Dennis, Administrative Specialist, International Students and Scholars |
| February 13, 2023 | Jessica Sweeney, Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice President for Student Life |
| January 30, 2023 | Adam Hintze, Area Director, Campus Living |
| January 17, 2023 | Michelle Callahan, Director, Health Promotion & Wellness |
| December 5, 2022 | Thom Lehman, Assistant Director, College Outdoors |
| November 21, 2022 | Chelsee Ellis, Administrative Specialist, Counseling Services |
| November 7, 2022 | Robin Keillor, Director, Counseling Services |
| October 24, 2022 | Tim McCrory, Head Coach Men’s Basketball, Physical Education/Athletics |
| October 10, 2022 | Megan Doren, Administrative Coordinator, Campus Living |
| September 26, 2022 | Julia Pacheco-Cole, Area Director, Campus Living |
| September 12, 2022 | Hilary Martin Himan, Director/Chaplain, Spiritual Life |
| August 29, 2022 | Paola Dennis, Administrative Specialist, International Students and Scholars |
Offers the opportunity to recognize Student Life programs or teams for going above and beyond, being of assistance, building community, or generally enhance the overall Lewis & Clark experience. Nominated by their peers, every month a program or team will be recognized. Additionally, the winners will be considered for the annual Student Life Team Award at the end of the year. Recognize programs/teams via this form!
Frequency: Once a month
Schedule: Typically the 1st or 2nd week of the month
Engagement Level: Low - engage at your convenience from your office, within specified deadlines
Each month, Student Life staff can participate in our Spotlight Challenge! Simply submit a photo and response to a fun, lighthearted, themed prompt. Submissions will be shared with the division, and staff will vote on their favorite entry. The individual with the most votes wins the challenge and a theme-related prize!
Frequency: Once a month
Schedule: Typically the 3rd or 4th week of the month
Engagement Level: Various - engage at your convenience from your office, within specified deadlines
Nov. 2025 Monthly Spotlight Challenge Winner: Wil Powell
Connect with fellow Student Life peers over a cup of coffee! We’ll have some prompt cards to get conversations flowing, but no more structure. Be in community, enjoy a cup of coffee, and catch up!
Frequency: Twice per semester
Schedule: Typically middle and end of the semester
Engagement Level: High - attend in-person for the full experience
Throughout the year, we’ll offer free tickets to local experiences you can enjoy with colleagues and family! These could include art shows, musical performances, sporting events, food tours, or other local happenings. Just enter the drawing for your chance to win.
Frequency: To be determined
Schedule: To be determined
Engagement Level: High - attend in-person for the full experience
A variety of socials or themed events focused on being in community, having fun, or supporting an L&C program. These could include happy hours, games, cheering on L&C student-athletes, attending a student theater performance, among others. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all upcoming organized socials.
Frequency: To be determined
Schedule: To be determined
Engagement Level: High - attend in-person for the full experience
The Student Life Shields are individually awarded each semester to staff members who demonstrate outstanding achievements, volunteerism, or performances beyond their regular job duties. Student Life deans and directors are invited to submit recommendations to the Vice President for Student Life (VPSL) for final selection.
Frequency: Twice, typically at the end of fall and spring semester
Schedule: December and May
Engagement Level: Various - be sure to share your achievements and involvement with your supervisor.
The Student Life Awards are annually presented to recognize staff for their hard work and dedication to the division mission and the student experience. The awards include: Rev. Mark Duntley Award, Team Award, Excellence in Innovation Award, Medallion Award, and the Partner Award.
Frequency: Once per academic year
Schedule: February through May
Engagement Level: Medium - keep track of peers you’d like to nominate
Upcoming Events
- Dec. 10: Annual Bake-Off and luncheon (11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Smith Hall, sign up for the Bake-Off)
- Dec. 1 - 12: SL Shields
- Dec. 13: SL Experience Giveaway - Holiday Pops with the Oregon Symphony (sign up by Dec. 5, noon)
- Jan. 12-15: Kudos for Colleague Nomination
- Jan. 26-30: Spotlight Challenge
- Feb. 5-8: Kudos for Colleague Nomination
- Feb. 25: SL Divisional Luncheon (11:30 a.m., Stamm, Fowler Student Center)
- March 2026: SL Experience Giveaway
- May 2026: SL Experience Giveaway
- May 2026: SL Shields
- May 27: SL Divisional Luncheon and Annual Student Life Awards
Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students is located in East Hall on the Undergraduate Campus.
MSC: 102
email vpsl@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7110
Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
Dr. Benjamin C. Meoz
Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219
