Pelchar to Lead BC Student Activities
Bluefield College has a new director of student activities. Anne Pelchar took on the role this summer. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and a graduate of Covenant College in elementary education, Pelchar brings a wealth of experience to the position.
After graduating from college, Pelchar taught elementary school for a few years, but felt the Lord was leading her to higher education. Her first job in higher education was at Grove City College where for nearly seven years she worked as a residence director.
She then left higher education and went to work for a church as a supervisor over a staff that ministered to youth and college students. Pelchar worked at the church for two years before she found Bluefield College. She said she enjoys working at BC because here she not only gets to work in higher education and plan events for students, but also gets to involve God in her work.
“Right now, with SGA (Student Government Association) and SALT (Student Activities Leadership Team), we are trying to get both of those back to their roots and where they should be,” said Pelchar about some of her goals for this year. “Getting SGA meeting enough, getting the officers in place, making sure everyone knows what their role is, and most importantly making their goals for the year.”
Pelchar said she also wants to get student organizations structured while also getting members of all the organizations excited to plan events and work together.
“I love that part of my job is investing in students,” she said, “to mentor and develop them, to build leadership and life skills that they can take anywhere.”
Currently Pelchar said she is just trying to figure out her role and what is needed in Student Activities at Bluefield College. Among the needs is stability, considering the director’s position has had frequent turnover in recent years.
“I can’t speak for my predecessors and as to why they took this job or had to leave,” said Pelchar. “I think because it is small, it has just been drawing employees from the community, which is fantastic, but if you are hiring for a specific thing you may not be able to pull just from the local community the types of people you want for a very specific role.”
Pelchar added she, Josh Arnold (associate vice president for Student Development), and Jessica Smith (director of Residence Life) are all newly hired employees at Bluefield College from other areas outside of Bluefield and “have all come with the intention of being planted for a few years.”
“I am a pretty loyal person and won’t leave until I feel like God has called me to leave,” said Pelchar, who is appears to be fully prepared to take the Student Activities Leadership Team and Student Government Association back to their roots, get more involvement in events on campus, and stay as long as it takes to get things running smoothly and as long as God calls her here.