Shane Ostermeier has been appointed director of student activities at Hope College.
Ostermeier has been a member of the college's residence life staff since 2003, serving most recently as assistant director of residential life and housing. Although he has already assumed some responsibilities with the student activities program, he will begin in his new role full-time after the conclusion of the current school year.
"In working with Shane, I have learned that he is genuinely committed to students, creates exceptional opportunities for students to learn and contribute, and likes to have fun. He is clearly committed to the mission of Hope College and understands the core elements involved," said Dr. Richard Frost, who is vice president for student development and dean of students at Hope. "I am very grateful for Shane's acceptance of the opportunity and know he will serve all students with excellence and care."
As director of student activities, Ostermeier will provide leadership for and guide a comprehensive program of student-led, co-curricular activities across the campus. The mix ranges from the "Milestone" yearbook, to the Social Activities Committee that plans campus-wide events, to the college's fraternities and sororities, to the traditional Pull tug-of-war and Nykerk Cup competition. He will also serve as staff coordinator of the college's "New Student Orientation" program.
Ostermeier joined the Hope staff as a residence life coordinator with particular emphasis on the college's 71 cottages, which are homes in the campus neighborhood that serve as student housing, and two residence halls. A year later he was awarded broader responsibility with the college's overall residential life program as well as the campus judicial system.
His background prior to coming to Hope was primarily in student activities. From August 2001 to June 2003 he was director of student activities at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., additionally serving as an interim resident director for seven months. He also worked in student activities in a variety of offices at the University of Nebraska while pursuing his Master of Arts in higher education/student affairs from 1999 to 2001, including minority student development, the office of the vice chancellor for student affairs, and social activity development.
Ostermeier's training in the student activities field began even while he was pursuing his Bachelor of University Studies degree with an emphasis in leadership studies at Idaho State University, from which he graduated in 1999. In addition to holding multiple leadership positions as a student, including serving as student body president, he had served as an intern in student development.