Registrar Joanna McGowan named president of local organization

With a strong sense of giving back--and with a surplus of energy--, Penn State Brandywine Campus Registrar Joanna McGowan has taken the helm of a professional organization, Delaware Valley Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission (DVACROA) as its president. DVACROA is the local chapter of the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission.

In her new role, McGowan is leading the initiative to connect area campus registrars and admissions officers with the resources and networking DVACROA can offer.

Having served as treasurer of the organization for the past two years, McGowan brings experience to her new position, especially after coordinating and hosting the DVACROA regional conference two years ago at the Brandywine campus.

Seeking out new members for their input is a priority for her this year. "We have a whole new group of members and I'm learning ways to use their fresh ideas to rejuvenate the organization," she said, with an overhaul of the website as one of the current projects. "I'm learning about our procedures, and learning how to delegate more," she added.

With DVACROA now in its fifth year, McGowan has already served on the steering committee and as treasurer. During her tenure as president, she hopes to add a new event, such as a mixer or other networking opportunity, so that the organization is more than just the annual conference, which takes place March 7, 2013 at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. "I'd also like to extend our reach and get more schools involved," she said. "It's free to join and the conference costs just $50, so it is a great opportunity to get affordable, local professional development and to network with other higher education professionals."

McGowan will also be featured in the December issue of the publication, "The Successful Registrar."

With a demanding job, three small children and not much sleep, how does she manage?

"I don't know," she confessed. "Let's see how the conference turns out before giving me credit. Also, my house is really, really messy."