After drive up from Florida, new House Advisor settles in

Among the multitude of new faces at Vassar this fall is Scott Radimer, House Advisor for Cushing and Noyes. Radimer has been on campus since late June, settling in and preparing for the 2006–2007 school year.

Originally from Vermont, Radimer received his bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Vermont in 2002, spent two years working as a special education teacher at a middle school, and went on to receive a master’s degree in student affairs and higher education from Florida State in 2006.

“I help to facilitate other people and their experiences,” said Radimer of his duties as house advisor for the two dorms. He delineated his responsibilities into three categories: general administrative duties, community building, and judicial affairs. Radimer is in charge of running projects for Residential Life, such as room draw and hiring new staff members, and he also sits on various administrative committees. Within the dorms, he works with student officers to coordinate campus events and handles student disciplinary cases in Cushing and Noyes. Additionally, he oversees student-leader training in the dorms and is planning to give presentations on hazing to student-athletes.

Some of Radimer’s initial desire to come to Vassar stemmed from his interest in returning to a college environment in the northeast. Though Vassar is a significant change from Florida State, he has found the transition surprisingly smooth. “I feel very much like a valued member of the community,” Radimer said of his experiences thus far.

To get to Vassar from Florida, he packed up his car and drove up the east coast, taking only what he needed. “Everything that didn’t fit in my car, I got rid of,” he explained. He and his two pet cats now reside in Noyes.

Radimer’s plans for his stay at Vassar extend beyond his responsibilities as a House Advisor. As a swimmer, he hopes to get involved with the swim team on campus. He also plans to publish articles and deliver presentations at national conferences on topics regarding the effects of technology on students’ communication skills. “Some people are not communicating as well today as they could be,” said Radimer.

On a personal level, Radimer aspires to challenge himself “as a person and as a professional [and] to be happy,” he said. “My number one goal is to be happy.”