Yonna McShane You've Got Questions, She's Got Answers

Author: Chelsea Coffin

After 21 years of serving Middlebury College as a counselor, assistant director of counseling and director of health and wellness education, Yonna McShane looks forward to helping students strive for academic excellence in her new position as director of Learning Resources.

McShane's strong interest in promoting health and well-being at the College has made her fully aware of sexual assault, substance abuse, eating disorders and other non-academic issues with which students may struggle. McShane wishes to expand academic support to a "holistic perspective" that incorporates mental health, she explained.

McShane is excited to apply her experience with Middlebury students' mental health to guiding their academic path. "I have a lot of students who stay up all night and then drink caffeine all day," said McShane, adding, "I'd like to focus on meeting students where they are, and moving along the continuum toward academic excellence."

During the course of her work in other departments, McShane has noticed patterns of student behavior that she will consider in her new position. She looks to combat the increase in overall stress that she has noticed over the past three years.

She cites the uncertain mood of international politics and economics and heightened educatinal standards as stressors affecting students.

The Office of Learning Resources, formerly the Office of Academic Support, helps students manage their workloads. Workshops, one-on-one meetings and commons liaisons assist students with time management, stress reduction, computer tasks, public speaking and note taking.

The office is undergoing a year of transition while it expands services and plans a move to the new library next fall. A pilot program, spearheaded by Assistant Dean for Instruction Kathy Skubikowski will make nine of the first-year seminars available to upperclassmen.

The older students are trained to assist with time management, stress reduction and computer skills so that they will "help students to come out with the technical skills to help them really shine," said McShane.

Although McShane left her position as director of the Office of Health and Wellness Education in August, nobody has been appointed yet to assume the role.

Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson explained that no replacement has been found because they need to take time to "best consider the options." This process involves evaluating the needs of the community in a way that will "both conserve our resources and still meet our needs," Hanson explained.

In the meantime, McShane will maintain some of her old responsibilities. The Human Resources department has taken over the sexual harassment portion, while the Web site for the Office of Health and Wellness Education provides information on topics of healthy eating, sleep, sexual health and drug use.

There are also plans for an interactive computer program, "e-chug," which will supply students with feedback about their alcohol use.

McShane will continue to teach her psychology course on alcohol and help to educate first-years on health and wellness at Middlebury with her "Informed Choices" lecture - a staple of orientation activities - and her informational mailings.