Two new advisors join CSL staff

By Chris O'Connell

Monday marked day one for two new advisors in the Center for Student Leadership.

CSL Director Jon Gray chose to hire the two new advisors, Tam Nguyen and Brenda Versteeg, last week.

Versteeg is the new advisor for the Activities Planning Board and the Bronco. As APB advisor, Versteeg will assist the members of APB and also counsel the 90 Registered Student Organizations on campus. Versteeg will also oversee and help organize events at the Bronco.

"After meeting with the APB students, I've seen that they have great plans. I'm here to support them through the rest of the year," Versteeg said. "I'm looking forward to meeting the registered clubs as well."

"I'm very excited to be back on campus and to be working with students," Versteeg said.

The San Jose native graduated from Santa Clara in 1997 with degrees in management and women's studies.

For the past six years, Versteeg has worked at The Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose as a volunteer and development manager.

"Brenda is a fun person," Gray said. "She'll make sure students get the most of their experience here. She is committed to serving the student population."

Stefani Tobin, a junior accounting major, worked with Versteeg in the office of the Dean of the Business school.

"Brenda has a drive and passion for what she does," Tobin said. "She's a quick learner and she's open to listening to others' ideas. She goes above and beyond the call of duty and I'm sure she'll do the same for CSL."

Versteeg said she is excited to bring her campus and post-graduate experiences to her new position.

"I'm committed to the leadership programs on campus," Versteeg said. "I know what it's like to be a Santa Clara student. But I've also worked off campus, bringing a new perspective to the student body."

Tam Nguyen, from Spokane, also graduated from Santa Clara, but with a degree in psychology.

While at Santa Clara, Nguyen worked as co-chair for the Multicultural Center programming board.

Nguyen has been working since two days after her 2001 graduation in Portland assisting teen parents, counseling adolescents, and working with a rape crisis center.

"I've come full circle," Nguyen said. "It's a good feeling to come back here."

Nguyen will serve as the student activities coordinator in CSL, advising Associated Students, the Multicultural Center, and multicultural clubs.

She will work closely with the student senate and the student body president and vice president, replacing Raquel Hackley.

"It's kind of hard coming in halfway through the year," Nguyen said. "My goal is to be as supportive as I can to the students."

"I grew a lot here at Santa Clara," Nguyen said. "I also had an opportunity to leave and work elsewhere and grow individually and professionally. I now have a chance to bring that back to Santa Clara."

Gray said he is confident the new advisors will be valuable assets to the CSL.

Gray said one reason why he chose to hire Brenda and Tam was the way they would naturally balance and compliment one another while working in the CSL office

"Tam and Brenda approach things from a different perspective, contributing uniqueness to the office," Gray said.

û Contact Chris O'Connell at (408) 554-4546 or coconnell@scu.edu.