Greetings from the “BEAUTIFUL Mount Vernon campus,” a phrase Rachelle (Shelly) Heller established as the official greeting to all who visit Mount Vernon at GW.
Dean Shelly Heller, our dynamic, creative, and much appreciated leader, is stepping down from the MV campus Associate Provost position and the WLP Director position. She will transition to the Computer Science department, as faculty and interim Chair. Shelly loves the “beautiful MV campus,” and we enjoy this lively campus because of her tireless leadership work. Her enthusiasm, hard work, and thoughtful insight initiated a series of innovative programs that support our healthy, vibrant, and integrated Mount Vernon campus community.
Shelly engaged all of the MV community groups in the process of supporting and developing new projects. Mount Vernon alumnae participate in campus activities directly through their funding of a math and science tutoring initiative, a strong WLP Mentoring Program, and scholarship funding for special projects. Also, they contribute their time greeting new students to campus and through active support of the yearly Leadership Conference. With local D.C. business participants and MV alumnae, Shelly helped initiate the Marsha Rosenthal Internship that pairs a WLP student with the downtown Business Improvement District group. These projects support and integrate the multiple communities that claim Mount Vernon as a home base.
GW’s Mount Vernon campus has expanded substantially through Dean Heller’s vision and direction. The Language Lab exists because Dean Heller envisioned a platform that would support the diversity of cultures represented on campus. In addition, this summer she secured a National Security Agency grant to host a Cyber Camp for middle school girls on the MV campus. Dean Heller’s aggressive diplomatic efforts, pairing opportunity with creative programming, have expanded the campus reach. Also, innovative teaching spaces have been established to encourage faculty to locate new courses on the Mount Vernon campus.
As director of the Women’s Leadership Program, Shelly strengthened the academic and co-curricular program through an expanded Speaker Series, student engagement in Community Service projects, and administrative structures. There is a WLP welcome and orientation program in place because of her efforts. Shelly encouraged and sought student participation in leadership opportunities both within and outside the classroom. Many students would drop by her office, just to chat and ask her advice. Her door is always open.
Dean Heller’s pioneering projects engendered strong MV community spirit and participation. They stretch beyond the conventional administrative responsibilities and recognize the value of personal involvement across community groups, engaging WLP & MV alumnae in a wealth of experiential programs that foster active, enthusiastic associations. Her creative, energetic, and thoughtful leadership will be missed, but her work transforming the Mount Vernon campus experience for all will continue to affect new student group.
We will assemble a book of remembrances for Dean Heller. If you feel inclined, take a few minutes and write a few sentences (or more) and send a photo of yourself (or some other visual). We will gather all of these into a book that captures Dean Heller's range of MV connections through a certain memory, insight, or connection. We would love to have these soon, so we can assemble the book. Please email April Lambert ([email protected]) with something that tells Shelly how you remember her contributions.
Wishing you peaceful and happy Summer Adventures -Mary Buckley, WLP faculty