Carey's leadership 'enhances Western traditions'
[ Editor's note: An earlier version of this story showed an incorrect retirement date for Anna Carey. She is retiring Sept. 1. Also, she is involved in the Western Reads program, not Western LEADS. We apologize for these mistakes. ]
Anna Carey has helped provide a variety of programs for new students and families at Western Washington University for about 25 years.
Carey, director of New Student Services/ Family Outreach, is retiring from Western on Sept. 1.
Carey has worked at Western since April 1990. She started as a student life program coordinator and since then has served for quarterly orientations, family weekends, Welcoming Convocation and student emergency and developed student leadership positions, Western Welcome Week and the two-day Summerstart programs for incoming freshmen.
Carey has been recognized with the regional mid-level professional award and the Fred Turner outstanding contribution award through the regional NASPA association.
When Carey first came to Western, the university wanted to enhance the student transition experience. So Carey expanded orientation programs and added fun activities, eventually creating what is now known as Western Welcome Week.
Carey has been a director since 2004. She has taken care of budget, future development plans, funding and supporting the Western Reads program. Also, she involved with the National Orientation Director’s Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Carey said she has had a hard time to deal with how much and what information the office continues providing to new students in best timing. To solve this, she has tried out many ways to reach out students such as email, website, newsletter, the Freshman Interest Groups program and residence Life. She said she is still looking for the best solution for this problem.
Every year, about 4,000 new students are coming to Western, but staff members of New Student Services/ Family Out Reach are only four. As one of those, Carey has helped campus as a community to be able to help people to put their best foot forward by creating a schedule and information and emailing and providing links on the website for new students and families.
“Anna is a great ambassador for Western,“ said Ronna Biggs, assistant director at New Students Services / Family Outreach, who has worked with Anna for about 17 years. “She is very committed to students and family members having a successful transition to the university experience. She is a very positive person for new folks to connect with, and I think she really helps ease to our community.”
Carey feels Welcome Convocation, which has been happening for 20 years on the night before classes start, is her most proud accomplishment. The event was her original idea.
"It’s a great, celebratory welcome to the campus community for new students and gives returning students an opportunity to welcome them," she said.
Eileen Coughlin, senior vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, agreed.
"Under Anna’s leadership, student convocation has become a tradition that invites students into the culture of the campus incorporating their dreams and goals as a part of an uplifting ceremony every fall," she said. "Her leadership clearly enhanced the traditions that have enriched Western’s culture as a caring campus."
Carey loves seeing how much students she worked with or hired as freshmen grow and learn in their time at Western. She loves watching as their responsibilities increase and they develop as leaders.
"(My job) is meeting the new folks and being part of the supporting their transition to the campus community," Carey said. "Answering questions, being available on the way of providing programs and experiences help new students feel a part."
After retiring, Carey goes to Semester at Sea as an assistant executive dean and is excited to visit 10 different countries and 11 ports for 15 weeks. She will work with 100 faculty and 500 students.
Carey said she has appreciated the people and opportunities at Western.
"One of the best part of Western is when we all work together regardless of what department and division you are working with," she said. "I really enjoyed being part of that."