STUDENT LIFE ADVISER READY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

Settling in this autumn as in Mt. Hood’s Student Life and Civic Engagement department is Rozina Lethe, who is the new Student Leadership and Engagement Coordinator, moving into the position in June.

That means she advises the Associated Student Government (ASG) and oversees the college’s student clubs/organizations, as well as Barney’s Pantry in the Student Union.

Lethe was born in Krasnodar, Russia, but was raised in Portland, graduating from Central Catholic High School.

She has been working professionally in the higher education field for about four years. Prior to coming to MHCC, she worked at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, and then Western Oregon University in Monmouth as a resident director, where she was in charge of the dorm buildings there.

One of Lethe’s favorite memories at Western Oregon was serving as resident assistant and making dreamcatcher circles for a special program one year. This was special for her, as it involved native cultures and cultural history. It turned out to be a popular project.

“There were about 65-70 people who came to the program and I ran out of supplies,” she said.

Lethe majored in applied mathematics at Western Oregon, but now sees working with college students as her future.

“I’ve always been interested in working with students in student government and focusing on the students,” she said. “I’ve got a great appreciation for community colleges in general. This position is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. It seemed like a perfect fit” at Mt. Hood, she said.

So far, Lethe is really enjoying her time at MHCC.

“I really like being able to work with the student leaders. It’s been really fun to see them grow in the past two months,” she said. “I want to continue to get to know the students and the college. I want to make sure I can have a positive impact on their experience here.”

Looking ahead, Lethe hopes someday to get her master’s degree and possibly become a director for the Student Life department, as well as run a student center similar to the Student Union, still working closely with students and staff members.

Away from work, she currently lives with her partner and their puppy, named Penelope Jane. She also enjoys alternative music, as well as the band “Matt and Kim.” But she is excited to come to the Gresham campus each day.

“I like it. I really like being in the Student Life department,” she said.