Svoboda named interim campus information director

Tori Svoboda, assistant director of Campus Information, Assistance and Orientation at UW–Madison, has agreed to serve as CIAO’s interim director.

Svoboda, assistant director since October 1998, will act in place of retiring assistant dean of students Jan Wheaton, who has served the university for 35 years in a variety of teaching and administrative roles.

CIAO is a unit of the Dean of Students Office that maintains off-campus housing listings for students, publishes a new student information handbook, coordinates orientation programs for new students and manages the Campus Assistance and Visitor Center. The center provides information on services in the areas of academics, social and recreational events; community resources; area attractions; transportation and health. CIAO also collaborates with the Office of Visitor Services.

Dean of Students Alicia Chavez made the decision to offer Svoboda the position on an interim basis to allow CIAO time to evaluate its structure and determine whether any changes are needed to better provide its services to students.

“We are beginning conversations with other campus units for possibilities on how to reorganize CIAO,” says Svoboda.

In addition, she plans to help the CIAO staff collaborate effectively with the Office of Visitor Services and to work on other initiatives in the university’s orientation programs.

“We are looking at what we can do to make [students’] first year a very seamless experience rather than many distinguishable events,” Svoboda says.

Chavez says CIAO also will be looking at incoming student culture. “For example, one thing we know is that students have become extremely conversant on Web sites and how we provide services will be drastically affected by that,” says Chavez. It may result in a shift toward more utilization of the Web and the institution of more Web-based services.

Chavez praised Svoboda’s dedication to students, professionalism, leadership and work ethic. “I’ve watched her work with the staff and she has a very empowering style,” Chavez says. “She’s a hit-the-ground-running leader and we can really use that in an interim situation.”

Svoboda will begin as interim director effective Sunday, July 1. The interim phase will last three to nine months. Her new salary is not yet set. Her current salary is $40,580.