After nearly 20 years in higher education at the George Washington University—including the last four years overseeing the Division of Student Affairs— Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski, B.A., ’91, M.A. ’93, Ph.D. ’97, has one golden rule: “Keep the lines of communication open.”
The principle is at the root of @GWPeterK, the amiable Twitter persona that Dr. Konwerski has cultivated to interact with students where they are—on social media.
He has amassed more than 5,800 Twitter followers and sent more than 30,000 tweets, building an online community where he connects with students and listens to their opinions and questions about a range of issues, from the recent midterm elections to the university’s Smoke-Free GW campaign.
“The college experience has changed dramatically since I lived in Thurston Hall, and you can’t get to know 25,000 students intimately,” the three-time alumnus said. “Students are online constantly, and Twitter allows me to talk to them about their issues and redirect them to resources.”
Dr. Konwerski’s modern approach to higher education leadership—built on student engagement and digital communication—has earned him the NASPA Region II Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean.
The recognition was announced last month by a national student affairs professional organization following a collective nomination from DSA administrators, current students and alumni.
According to Mark Levine, senior associate dean of students, Dr. Konwerski is a “true Colonial” who has led the DSA in creating new ways to meet student needs. His accomplishments range from increasing resources for international and veteran students to emphasizing the importance of promoting student health and leading efforts on the combined health and wellness center.
“It all started on his first day as dean when he swung open the door of the DSA office—offering a literal and symbolic gesture to make DSA more accessible and engaging,” Mr. Levine said. “Dr. Konwerski’s work around building student community—a tough task at any school—has been a hallmark of his role.”
When GW Student Association Executive Vice President Avra Bossov met Dr. Konwerski as a volunteer at the Arlington, Va., summer sendoff in 2013, she had already developed a rapport with the dean on Twitter and was impressed with his honesty and desire to improve the student experience at GW.
She said that in working with him through the SA she has come to appreciate his “big picture perspective.”
“Dr. Konwerski is very visible in the student community and is able to build relationships by sharing his own GW experiences,” Ms. Bossov said. “He always has an open ear and deeply cares about the university and our students. It shows through his dedication to experiential learning in and out of the classroom.”
Assistant Provost for University Career Services Rachel Brown said that the “Dean for a Day” program--which lets students go behind-the-scenes with an administrator for a day—is evidence of Dr. Konwerski’s commitment to transparency.
“What struck me the most was when Peter mentioned that after a student shadowed him, he was going to ask if he could shadow the student,” Ms. Brown said. “Peter's student-centered approach comes through everything he does and in many unexpected and creative ways.”
Dr. Konwerski was drawn to working in higher education while studying nonprofit management at GW and working in housing as a student. He said that his underlying passion is service and service learning.
“There is so much diversity at GW, and I am constantly amazed by our students,” Dr. Konwerski said. “My heart beats at a faster pace when I see students serving others, whether they are participating in Alternative Break programs or Freshman Day of Service.”
Vice Provost and Dean of Students Peter Konwerski takes a photo of students at the Vern Harvest event, formerly known as Octoberfest.
Describing GW students as “bright, inquisitive and passionate,” Dr. Konwerski said that the success the DSA has had in expanding health and wellness resources, post graduate and career services and other initiatives that enhance GW’s community, are the result of support from the Board of Trustees and the administration, and open dialogue with students.
“Sometimes we make the right decision when we change a policy or start a program, and we have students saying, ‘way to go!’ Other times we get it wrong, and we listen to that feedback,” Dr. Konwerski said. “We are a big institution that is constantly changing, and the good news is that if something doesn’t go as planned, we can always revisit it and strive to do better.
“I am sort of speechless about this award,” he added. “I may be perceived as the leader of our unit, but the honor is really a reflection of the students—who come here and are so fantastic—and my staff and colleagues—who are on the ground doing the work to support them.”