A Remote Start at Emerson: New Staff Profiles
The College has welcomed approximately 20 new staff members since we started working remotely. Learn more about a few of our newest colleagues:
Bennett Locke is the second shift trade supervisor in Facilities Management. He started at Emerson on April 13. He credits Tess Wilensky (HR) for a helpful onboarding process, during which she assisted him and his fellow new hires in learning more about the campus culture. He’s also been grateful for the collaborative atmosphere in his department. “My coworkers have been astounding….I can’t tell you how many times someone has reassured me that I can call on them for help. At any time, day or night, even if I’m on campus and they’re off duty,” he said.
Locke had been self-employed for the last eight years. His background is in finish carpentry, and he worked on remodeling and restoring historic homes and landmarks in the Greater Boston area. Outside of work, his two main hobbies are blowing glass and playing the piano. He started his arts education with a focus on metallurgy at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and then he shifted to glass blowing at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. He is active in the local glass blowing community and enjoys teaching and mentoring students.
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Cynthia Ntinunu started as the administrative associate in the Department of Marketing Communication on May 26. She noted that everyone she’s met at Emerson has been kind and helpful. She said, “I want to shout out Brent Smith, the chair of the Marketing Communication Department and my boss, for making this transition as smooth as possible. He’s been a great help and resource….I also want to shout out Paul Pegher (School of Communication), Christopher Stetson Wilson (Journalism), Matt Fabian (Registrar), and the IT Help Desk (especially Nicholas Sloane).”
Ntinunu graduated from UMass Amherst last year and had been doing administrative temp work until she was hired by Emerson. In her spare time, she likes watching anime, including Haikyuu and Tokyo Ghoul. She also does crochet and embroidery and loves music. Currently, Vietnamese R&B/pop is on her playlist.
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Jaz Osman is the administrative assistant in Campus Life. She started on March 16 and had one week on campus before going remote. She has been keeping in touch with colleagues through Zoom and Slack. She’s also been attending HR’s virtual training sessions to meet more staff outside of her department.
Prior to her arrival at Emerson, Osman worked at the educational travel company EF Education First and at the Walt Disney Company’s Disneyland Hotel. Her favorite hobby is reading. “I own way too many books and getting a Kindle has been life-changing,” she said. Her favorite topics are ancient history, mythology, and animation history. She also enjoys photography, writing, and making homemade beauty products.
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David Todd is the associate director in the Office of Student Transitions and Family Programs. He started on March 30 and has had an easier transition than most because he is returning to Emerson after having worked here from 2015 to 2017. He said, “It sounds cliché, but the Emerson community still feels strong, even remotely.”
He worked at Wellesley College as the advisor for new student programs for three years before returning to Emerson. Outside of the office, he likes to stay active by exercising, running, and swimming. He also explores parks and goes on hikes with his husband, Matt, and their Jack Russell Terrier/Lab/Pit mix, Miles. He loves musical theater and a cappella music and enjoys singing and playing the piano.
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Jinny Van Deusen is the associate director of professional development and experiential learning in Institutional Advancement. She started on April 27 and has been keeping in touch with her colleagues through Zoom and Slack. She said that although the platforms are no substitute for in-person interaction, “…even with that ‘technology layer’ in between, it’s been easy to see that the Emerson community is made up of people who are passionate, creative, inclusive—and who are not only interesting, but interested as well.”
Van Deusen worked at UMass Lowell before coming to Emerson. Prior to that, she worked at another “purple school”: Holy Cross. When she’s not working, she can be found outdoors, either hiking, kayaking, or playing golf. She grew up on a lake, so she especially loves to be on or near water.
A warm welcome to Bennett, Cynthia, Jaz, David, Jinny, and all of our colleagues who started at Emerson during this challenging time in our history. We look forward to seeing you on campus when we return!
Nancy Howell, Communications and Marketing