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Ann Comerford (WIU/VPC photo)
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Ann Comerford Named WIU's University Union Director

August 18, 2010

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MACOMB, IL - - Ann Comerford, director of Western Illinois University's Office of Student Activities, has been named the University Union Director, effective Sept. 1, according to Vice President for Student Services Garry Johnson.

Comerford succeeds University Union Director Al Harris, who has been named director of undergraduate admissions at Western, effective Sept. 1.

"Ann has done an exceptional job in student activities and leadership programming since she came to Western in 1999," Johnson said. "She has grown tremendously with every promotion from assistant to associate director and a year as interim director before being named director of student activities June 1, 2007, following a national search.

"Her experiences, leadership skills and knowledge of the University Union and the University overall make her ready for the director position," Johnson added.

As director of the University Union, Comerford will be responsible for the supervision of Student Activities, the University Bookstore, bowling and billiards, the service desk, the Student Assistance and Parent Service Center as well as operations within the University Union.

"I am excited about the opportunity and I am looking forward to the new challenges," Comerford said.

As director of the Office of Student Activities, Comerford is the senior administrator for the department, with direct responsibilities for the personnel, budget, planning and evaluation for the programs and services offered, such as: Leadership and Student Organization Services, Campus Programming, Greek Life Programs, Volunteer Services, Multicultural Services and Western Technical Services. She manages and supervises 20 personnel, including seven fulltime staff members, and 10 graduate assistants; and she oversees the allocation of the student activity fee, approximately $1 million, through the Council on Student Activity Funds, which she advises. She also is the adviser for the Student Government Association and the Council on Student Information Technology.

Comerford is co-chair of the University Theme Committee and oversees the University Theme Speaker Series. She has given numerous presentations at professional conferences, including a keynote speech at a leadership conference.

She is a member of the American College Personnel Association, the Association of College Unions International, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the National Association of Campus Activities and the Illinois College Personnel Association, which she served as president and vice president.

Comerford earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Quincy University (1991) and her master's degree in education with an emphasis in college student personnel from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1999).

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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