Erin Provistalis has been named the Director of New Student Programs at UConn Storrs. She will begin the newly expanded role at the university on Sept. 30, 2022.
Erin, who most recently served as the Executive Director of Student Engagement at Quinnipiac University, brings over 15 years of experience leading orientation and other student life programs. During her time at Quinnipiac, Provistalis provided leadership for new student orientation, family orientation programs, welcome weekend, student engagement and the university’s two student centers. In addition to her extensive experience at Quinnipiac, Erin has held various leadership roles for orientation and student programs at Western New England University in Springfield, MA, as well as for NODA, which is the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education.
“Erin brings significant experience and expertise to the leadership role of our new student orientation programs,” says Nathan Fuerst, UConn’s Vice President for Enrollment Planning & Management. “This truly feels like an instance where we have hired the right person at the right time.”
“I am thrilled to be joining Husky Nation and to begin working with new students and family members during their transition to UConn!” says Provistalis.
Over the course of the pandemic, the University of Connecticut made significant revisions to the orientation program to ensure that new students were safely onboarded, despite the ongoing challenges associated with COVID. This included a shift to a 100% virtual orientation program during 2020 and 2021. In-person orientation was reintroduced for the Fall 2022 entering class.
“Our orientation team and university partners have been superb in demonstrating flexibility and creativity throughout the challenges of the pandemic,” says Fuerst. “Coming away from the pandemic serves as an ideal moment in the history of the program for the new leader to set a vision for the future. It is clear that we have found the perfect person to lead us forward.”
As the Director of New Student Programs, Provistalis will direct orientation for UConn Storrs, as well as collaborate with the orientation managers at the Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury campuses, setting a collective vision and unified approach for new undergraduate student orientation across all of UConn’s campuses. Provistalis will also serve as EPM’s lead for UConn’s DEI onboarding undergraduate student initiative.
“I am excited to collaborate with the dynamic team of professionals that work with the orientation programs to reimagine the onboarding process for a new student and their family,” says Provistalis. “I want us to create a program and services that are truly meeting the needs of diverse populations and allowing for the transition to collegiate life, or a different campus, to be as seamless as possible.”
