Several faces will change among Whitman’s administrators and staff next year.

Jed Schwendiman, currently associate to the president, will be moving to the new position of development officer next year. In this new position, he will be meeting with parents and alumni and helping to raise funds for the college.

Schwendiman was offered the position of associate to the president in 2005, when he agreed to stay on for three to five years. He interviewed for and was offered the development officer position last fall. He has been transitioning into this position since March 1.

Schwendiman is pleased with his new job.

“I’m looking forward to being able to focus my energies on raising funds for student scholarships, endowments and other important projects for the college. I love Whitman and enjoy helping to find additional resources for the college,” he said.

The President’s Office might eventually replace the position, but currently they are trying to work with fewer staff members.

Keiko Pitter is retiring from her position as Chief Information Officer after holding the position for 13 years. As CIO, she was responsible for meeting with and managing all components of the technology services staff.

Looking back on her time as CIO, Pitter reflects on how much has changed in the past decade within technology.

“Technology is changing faster and faster. It’s getting difficult to keep up, which means it’s a good time to retire,” she said jokingly.

She says that she enjoyed the challenge of working in a changing field and she will look back fondly on her time at Whitman.

“I love this campus. I love the people,” she said.

According to Peter Harvey, treasurer and chief financial officer, approximately 100 people applied for the CIO position. A committee consisting of staff, faculty, and one student reviewed the applications. The top 15 candidates were interviewed over the phone and the top four candidates recently went through a two-day-long interviewing process on campus. They also each gave a presentation that was open to the whole campus.

The hiring committee is in the process of evaluating feedback from many interviewers and from the results of a web survey about the candidates’ presentations. They will present this feedback to President Bridges, who will make the final decision.

Harvey believes that the job search is going well.

“We had a lot of impressive applicants. The four that were interviewed were all slightly different, but all strong candidates,” he said.

Lina Menard, associate director of the student engagement center, resigned from her position in order to further her education. She plans to go to graduate school at Portland State University to get her degree in urban planning.

“This is something I’ve been moving towards for a long time,” she said. “I’ve been interested in urban planning since I was 14. I just wasn’t quite ready for grad school right after graduation. I wanted to get involved with the community and get some professional skills first.”

Whoever fills her position will be responsible for helping to coordinate community service projects and to help connect students with job and community service opportunities off-campus.

Menard says she is unsure what is going to happen with her old position, but she remains confident.

“I’m not sure exactly what will happen, but I’m sure whatever decision is made will work out fine. I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” she said.

According to Clare Carson, associate dean of students in academic support services, the search for Menard’s replacement won’t begin until next spring.

Colleen McKinney, student activities program advisor, is also leaving her job in order to go to graduate school. The student activities office plans to start the hiring process to fill her position next week.

Sam Norgaard-Stroich, assistant director of Whitman’s Outdoor Programs, is also leaving because is wife was offered a teaching position at the University of Oregon, Eugene.

He had a positive experience with the Outdoor Programs.

“I love my job here,” he said.

A hiring committee with members of the Outdoor Program, members of the Dean of Students Office, the athletic director, and a faculty member is working on filling the position.