Parent relations director pours intensity into family, job
Liz Essley
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
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"My mom is always laughing," says freshman Natalie Ewers.
The coworker leaves and Mary's second oldest child - a junior here at Hillsdale College - enters the office.
"What do you need, baby?" Ewers asks her son.
A little conversation, and exhortation follows: "Well let's get that show on the road, honey... You need to make that decision now," she says.
Mary Ewers, director of parent relations, is able to relate to Hillsdale parents because she is one. Her son, Dylan, graduated in 2008; Cody, a Collegian reporter, is a junior; Natalie graduated from Hillsdale Academy last spring and is now a freshman at the college.
"Parents get me, I get them, because we both have kids here," Ewers says.
As director of parent relations, Ewers oversees the Parent Association Steering Committee, publishes two newsletters a year, plans Parent Weekend and other events and travels around the nation to meet parents, discuss their concerns and encourage them to become involved with the college.
Some parents she convinces to donate to the college; others, to speak at on-campus lectures or help with job opportunities for new graduates.
"I love my job. I love this school. I actually even like this town," Ewers, an Indiana native, says.
Ewers, who has a business degree from Indiana University, moved to Hillsdale after the college admissions office hired her as a secretary in 2002. She transfered to Moss in 2005 to work in parent relations.
Kim Gehrke, staff assistant for parent relations, has often watched Ewers in action.
"I've been with her at dinners, and people just really love her," she says.
Ewers is high energy and fast-paced.
"You gotta keep up," Gehrke says.
She recalls her first day on the job, when Ewers was showing her around Moss. Gehrke, a fast walker, would be able to stay behind Ewers on the stairs, but once they reached the top, Ewers would shoot halfway down the hall while Gehrke was still stepping through the door.
"I'm like 'How do you do that?'" Gehrke remembers.
Professor of History Mark Kalthoff gives a similar description. "She brings a lot of energy and intensity to her work," he says.
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