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Robin Worth New Assistant Dean for Students
There is a new face in the Office for Students, the face of Robin Worth, assistant dean for students. She arrived in June to work with HSPH students, and she loves her job.
Her enthusiasm for her work at the school is not surprising, given her background. She is a long-time member of the Harvard community, having attended the College and having earned master's and doctoral degrees at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She spent seven years living in Harvard dormitories with freshmen, serving as a residential advisor. She was assistant director of admissions in the College's admissions office and an assistant dean of freshmen. She comes to HSPH directly from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where her latest appointment was assistant academic dean.
Robin Worth, assistant dean for students, shares a laugh with students
at the Reception and Information Fair on September 13.
Of her time at the Kennedy School she says, "I worked there for about three years, arriving just after, and working for, Joseph Nye when he became dean of the school. I learned a tremendous amount about how graduate schools operate, and my work with the faculty was extremely interesting.
"But," she continued, "I was careful not to lose contact with students, although this involvement was outside the scope of my official job responsibilities. At the Kennedy School, I served as an admissions committee member and as an advisor to master's degree students.
"When I thought about what I liked best about my time at the Kennedy School, I realized it was this work with students. That realization spoke to me, and when this job opening at HSPH came to my attention, I thought it was perfect," she said.
At HSPH, Worth heads the Office for Students, which provides a variety of services, including career resources, housing information, and assistance to students with disabilities. "Basically," explained Worth, "we're here to help students in any way we can. We can help people understand and navigate the school's processes. We listen and act if we can on student suggestions for improving the school. We facilitate student/faculty communication. And we try to provide guidance and support on any issue of concern to students."
In addition to coordinating annual events such as orientation and graduation, the office will offer workshops and presentations of interest to students. The office also works closely with the school's student government, the Student Coordinating Committee, and with the various student groups.
One component of the Office for Students will be changing this year, and this change has Worth excited: "We're reinvigorating our Career Services Office," she explained. "Jeannette Gerzon has done a wonderful job as the acting director of career services, and I'm happy to say that she'll be continuing her work here. In addition, we're very close to naming a permanent, full-time person to lead that office.
"Career services are obviously very important to students," she said, "and they've changed a lot in recent years. While we still provide one-on-one counseling on preparing resumes or preparing for interviews, advances in information technology have opened up exciting new ways to learn about and seek career opportunities. We plan to offer our students--this year--the best career resources possible."
In addition to providing services and resources to students, Worth's office is also committed to working with the school's faculty. Worth and her staff can offer advice on working with students with disabilities or with academic or personal problems.
Students should know that Worth's is the office where they can go when problems of any nature jeopardize their HSPH learning experience. Hers is also the office that administers the disciplinary process when students break the school's rules.
But Worth is not a person who dwells on the negative. And the great majority of her interactions with students are positive. "Sometimes," she said, "I get bogged down in paperwork and administration. But then I'll run into a student and have a great conversation. HSPH students do fascinating work and have interesting stories to tell. Meeting and talking to students is what I love to do, and it makes everything else worthwhile."
