Staff
The first year experience staff are here to provide support and guidance as students go through their first year at the university and beyond. The FYE office is located in 101A Dining Commons. Students may also contact the office by email.
Our Team
Mathew Chetnik, director
Franklin Chilaka, assistant director
Elizabeth Blood, faculty fellow, first year experience (first year seminar)
Vacant, faculty fellow, first year experience (FYRE and learning communities)
Joshua Beckett, student success coach
Mackenzie Mason, student success coach
Megan Rogers, student success coach
Emily Sylvanowicz, student success coach
Lydia Leitschuh, exploratory program student success coach
Brooke Maker, exploratory program student success coach
Janique Jean, practicum student
June Perrin, first year reading experience coordinator
Stacy Weigand, student success coordinator
O-Team
Always O-utstanding. Definitely O-utrageous. Truly O-riginal
O-Team (Opening Team) is a group of upper-class students who volunteer to help welcome the incoming class of first year students each year in August/September, ensuring that each student has an awesome start to the year. Any upper-class student can be a member of the O-Team as long as they bring a high level of enthusiasm and dedication to welcoming students to the university.
O-Team assists in coordinating and implementing the First Year Day of Service and Opening Day which includes Convocation, FYRE, and several other events. O-Team members are positive role-models for first year students and possess knowledge of campus resources, student organizations, processes, and university events/activities.
First Year Office Assistants
FYE office assistants support the first year experience office by staffing the reception desk, answering phones and referring students to appropriate resources. Office assistants provide support for a variety of projects including advertising events, scheduling appointments, keeping the office organized, and carrying out administrative tasks. FYE office assistants typically work between five and 10 hours per week (depending on schedule and availability) and are paid an hourly rate of $13.50 per hour. Applicants for the office assistant position must have work-study through financial aid and possess strong customer service skills.
Applications will be available in August 2021.
First Year Mentors
Mentors are undergraduate student staff who work out of the first year experience office, coordinate programs and events, and serve as a resource for first year and transfer students with questions or concerns in addition to other position responsibilities.
Mentors typically work 5 to 10 hours a week (depending on schedule and availability) and are paid an hourly rate of $14 per hour for Fall 2021 and $14.75 for Spring 2022.
To apply, students should submit an application form or a re-application form, save the application to their computer, then email the completed application and copy of their resume to firstyear@salemstate.edu. Please be mindful that on some web browsers, you may have to print the PDF in order to save content. Before submitting be sure to review the application. Applications due by March 26, 2021.