About Us

Staff

Karen Gerlach MA, PhD x3390 Director

The director is responsible for generating and promoting collaborative extracurricular programming and providing advisement to the undergraduate and graduate student governments, class councils, student media organizations, clubs and organizations. In addition, the director is responsible for reviewing, formulating, implementing and communicating policy and providing oversight of student activity fee allocations and expenditures.

Karen has worked in Student Activities at American University since August of 1996; as a coordinator, assistant director and for the past 6 years as Director. She previously worked as a Resident Director and a Financial Aid Counselor at Centenary College in New Jersey. Karen has a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Wilkes University, a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from American University and has her PhD in Education from American University. Karen currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for Facilitating Leadership in Youth, a local youth-based non-profit in SE Washington, D.C. and is a volunteer for DC Voice, a city-wide education advocacy group committed to ensuring that every DC public school student receives a high quality education.

 

Chad LaDue MBA x3397 Assistant Director

The assistant director is responsible for overseeing the administration of the undergraduate and graduate student activity fees, and student media, class council, club, and organization accounts; maintaining the Student Activities budget records and for managing human resources processes within the office.

Chad LaDue started working as the Financial Administrator for Student Activities in October of 2002. Prior to his work in Student Activities, Chad had been a member of the AU community for 8 years, working full time for e-operations as an Audio Visual technician while completing his Bachelors in Economic Theory. He then continued his education and obtained his MBA from the Kogod School of Business at American University. Chad has been Assistant Director since October 2007.

 

Alicia Rodrigues BS x3395 Media Advisor

The Media Advisor advises the recognized student media outlets on campus including The Eagle (newspaper), The Talon (yearbook), ATV (television), WVAU (radio), American Word (news magazine) and American Literary (literary journal). The Media Advisor is also responsible for ensuring the effective management of the student media outlets; including fiscal, technical and liaison with internal and external constituents. Program management responsibilities include maintaining the Student Activities website and database management systems and develop marketing campaigns,promotional materials, forms, tickets, invitations, and other materials as needed for Student Activities and office sponsored events and activities.

Alicia completed her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University and also attended Newport News Telecommunications Center specializing in Television Production and Journalism. Alicia most recently served as an Event Scheduling Coordinator for the University Center at American University. Previous experience includes serving as the Marketing and Promotional Assistant in the Department of Recreational Sports at Virginia Commonwealth University and working for three years as Production Assistant for NNPS Channel 47.

 

Andrew Toczydlowski MA, x3392 Program Advisor

The program advisors are responsible for generating and promoting extracurricular programming and providing for the advisement of a cross-section of undergraduate and graduate student government departments, class councils, school councils, clubs, and organizations. Program Advisors are experts in program planning and in University and Student Activities policies and procedures.

Andrew has recently completed his Master of Arts in Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut. He also has a BS in Adolescent Education and French from SUNY Oneonta. Andrew's experiences include serving as the Advisor to Late Night Programs and as a Graduate Program Advisor in the Department of Student Activities, Programs Office at the University of Connecticut. He also completed an Internships in Housing Services and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Services at the University of Connecticut and served as an Assistant Residence Hall Director for Orientation at SUNY College at Oneonta. While in Graduate School, Andrew also served on several university committees and founded a graduate student organization.

 

Laura Matteo BA; x3395 Financial Administrator

The Financial Administrator is responsible for assisting the Assistant Director with maintaining the financial records of student organizations advised by the Student Activities office, responding to financial inquiries of Student Activities staff and students, and providing support to ongoing projects of the Student Activities staff.

Laura grew up outside of Philadelphia attending an all girls high school where she was active in the International and Health Service clubs and was captain of the cheerleading team for four years. Laura received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from AU in 2007 and spent a semester abroad studying art in Italy. While at AU, Laura was involved with the Student Union Board, Screaming Eagles, the Men’s Rowing team, and was part of the Student Activities student staff for three years. Laura spent the last year working in Charleston, South Carolina and is very excited to rejoin our staff as the new Financial Administrator!

 

Jarrod MacNeil MS, x3393 Program Advisor
Will be joining Student Activities on February 2nd, 2009

The program advisors are responsible for generating and promoting extracurricular programming and providing for the advisement of a cross-section of undergraduate and graduate student government departments, class councils, school councils, clubs, and organizations. Program Advisors are experts in program planning and in University and Student Activities policies and procedures.