There are times when Patti McSteen gets calls at 3 a.m. about fires, floods or deaths. But she is not a police officer or firefighter - she is the assistant dean of students at Ohio University. Her job requirements include helping
students with general problems and providing aid in times of emergency.
We respond to crises as they occur on campus
she said. The office has a close relationship with the OU Police Department, the Athens Police Department and the Athens Fire Department so they can quickly help with emergencies, she said.
I'm usually the first contact with students she said. She is the first one who helps students find housing, clothing or reimbursement after a fire or other emergency.
McSteen, a Parma native, has called Athens home for most of the past two decades. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1989 and master's degree in 1991 - both from OU. After getting her Ph.D. in counselor education at OU in 1997, she started as assistant dean of students.
On a daily basis, McSteen receives questions from students and parents when they do not know where to turn.
What I have to do every day is different she said. The Dean of Students Office helps students with residence life problems, family deaths or emergencies - When life happens
McSteen said.
She said she tries to keep a fairly open schedule to make sure she can see students when they have questions or problems.
Connecting students and parents to the proper resource - whether it is residence life, counseling services, extracurricular clubs or emergency housing - is just one of the tasks the office performs.
McSteen and Dean of Students Terry Hogan also convey the university's perspective to students. Sometimes it is proactive discussion - talking to students about responsible behavior before Palmerfest or the time change in the spring - and sometimes it is reactive, such as talking about the arrests this past Halloween weekend.
The office also employs two graduate students and six undergraduate students who are trained to talk to students and parents on the phone.
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