After 13 years of trekking up and down the building’s rickety stairs, Lindsay Falke is preparing to say goodbye to Central Hall.
Falke informed college administrators of her intentions to resign from her position as Registrar early this fall. Falke has served as Registrar since 2001, though she took a yearlong absence during the 2003-2004 academic year.
Falke graduated from Hillsdale in 1996 with a degreein American Studies and worked as an admissions counselor for five years after graduation before accepting the Registrar position.
Working for the college has been a rewarding experience, she said.
“I really enjoy the people I’ve worked with,” Falke said. “Also, there are a lot of students I’ve seen all the way through the process from recruitment to their degree.”
Falke met her husband Brent while working at the college. Brent Falke also worked for the college after graduation, in both the admissions department and public affairs. In 2004 he stopped working for the college and is now pursuing a teaching certificate.
“It was a great opportunity for both of us to work here, but we just feel like we’re ready for something new at this point,” Lindsay Falke said.
Falke said she is looking to gain new professional experiences outside the college environment, but has no concrete plans yet as to where she and her husband will live or work.
Since Falke announced plans to resign, Director of Financial Aid Rich Moeggenberg, a former Registrar himself, has been actively seeking a replacement for Falke.
After receiving several applications from current college employees, Moeggenberg opened the job position to external candidates and said he has received between 20 and 30 promising applications, in addition to several internal candidates.
Currently, Moeggenberg said he is working on arranging on-campus interviews with the candidates.
“I’ve been very, very happy with not only the number of candidates who have applied but with the quality of the candidates as well,” he said.
Moeggenberg said he hopes to hire a new Registrar in time for the spring semester so the new person can have a full year of training with Falke.
“I fully expect there to be a competent person joining [the] Hillsdale family soon,” he said.
Moeggenberg spoke highly of Falke and her tenure as Registrar.
She will be sorely missed in the Registrar’s office,” Moeggenberg said. “I appreciate everything she’s done.”
As for the Falkes, “It will nice to just be alums,” Lindsay said.