2008 Woodie Awards
Director picked for LGBT development
Maren Greathouse of Univ. Wisconsin, Madison to join TU's staff on June 2
Sharon Leff
News | 4/10/08
Maren Greathouse from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, will start as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender student development director June 2.
Greathouse was chosen from more than 50 applicants, three of which interviewed on campus during spring break. She is a graduate from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and currently works as the associate student services specialist in the LGBT campus center at UW-Madison.
Greathouse replaces Samuel Santos who left Towson in October.
She said part of the reason she applied to Towson was because it reminded her of her alma matter.
"It really reminded me of home," she said. "The position seemed like a great opportunity in LGBT student affairs too, with a lot of opportunity for growth of a program."
Santiago Solis, co-chair of the search committee and senior director in the center for student diversity, said the University started the search in December.
"It took a little bit longer than we anticipated," Solis said. "Originally we felt we could have somebody sometime during the spring but we're happy that she's coming."
He said it was Greathouse's overall experience with the LGBT community that made her standout.
"She is very knowledgeable about transgender issues so she brings that expertise with her…and that will be very helpful for us here at this campus with the new housing in West Village etc., just in terms of how to negotiate bathrooms and spaces for transgender people, that's an important issue to talk about," he said.
Solis said the search committee consulted with students prior to offering Greathouse the position. Candidates, who visited during Spring Break met with the committee, took a tour of campus and ate lunch with students.
Though a lot of the student body won't be present when Greathouse starts in June, Solis said he wants her to start working with those taking summer courses and figuring out what programs and speakers they'd like to see at Towson.
Greathouse was chosen from more than 50 applicants, three of which interviewed on campus during spring break. She is a graduate from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and currently works as the associate student services specialist in the LGBT campus center at UW-Madison.
Greathouse replaces Samuel Santos who left Towson in October.
She said part of the reason she applied to Towson was because it reminded her of her alma matter.
"It really reminded me of home," she said. "The position seemed like a great opportunity in LGBT student affairs too, with a lot of opportunity for growth of a program."
Santiago Solis, co-chair of the search committee and senior director in the center for student diversity, said the University started the search in December.
"It took a little bit longer than we anticipated," Solis said. "Originally we felt we could have somebody sometime during the spring but we're happy that she's coming."
He said it was Greathouse's overall experience with the LGBT community that made her standout.
"She is very knowledgeable about transgender issues so she brings that expertise with her…and that will be very helpful for us here at this campus with the new housing in West Village etc., just in terms of how to negotiate bathrooms and spaces for transgender people, that's an important issue to talk about," he said.
Solis said the search committee consulted with students prior to offering Greathouse the position. Candidates, who visited during Spring Break met with the committee, took a tour of campus and ate lunch with students.
Though a lot of the student body won't be present when Greathouse starts in June, Solis said he wants her to start working with those taking summer courses and figuring out what programs and speakers they'd like to see at Towson.
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