Author: Erik Parker, Torch Staff
Early this month, the Office of Fellowships, Scholarships and National Awards saw the departure of its director, Gwen Hill. Hill was the office’s Health Professions Advisor and Fellowships Advisor and left Occidental College for a position at the University of California, Riverside.
During Hill’s 18 months at the college, she worked closely with students and professors. Administrative Assistant to the Office of Fellowships, Scholarships and National Awards Suzanne Pramov said that Hill guided students through “the process of applying to health professions’ schools or for a national award.”
Pramov said Hill met with health professions students at least once a semester to offer advising as early as their first year at Occidental. Health profession advising includes discussing “academic plans, community service, research and other goals.”
“She would conduct mock interviews with the students until the student felt confident for the interview,” Pramov said. “She knew how to prepare the students for the type of interviews the different schools would have, as she had over 25 years of experience in both the academic setting and in the health professions’ schools.”
Hill also advised students on how to “gather information on national awards.” In addition, Pramov said, “This semester [the Office of Fellowships, Scholarships and National Awards] began to send the word out about the fellowships/scholarships to all students to encourage students to think early about national awards.”
Detailing the work further, Pramov said, “[Hill] worked on putting a process in place for each award and creating a timeline for the awards so students knew what they needed to do and when it needed to be accomplished.”
In addition to advising, Hill organized informational meetings relating to health professions and national awards for students. “The informational meetings ranged from academic planning for health professions schools and exploring careers in health professions to how to interview for a national award and how to write a research proposal,” Pramov said. One particular instance Pramov noted was an informational meeting on the medical school admissions process by a nationally known expert on medical schools admissions Norma Wagoner.
At the time of her departure from the college, Hill was advising approximately 250 Occidental students and alumni on health professions. Thirty of these students/alumni were currently applying to medical schools and over half have been offered interviews by these schools.
Hill had also been helping students/alumni apply to nursing, public health, veterinary and dental schools. “Four students have applied to graduate programs in public health; three have been accepted,” Pramov said. “We have three students applying to dental school and all have been called for interviews.”
Hill was also very active in national award advising, with approximately 50 advisees. This year, thanks to Hill’s help, there have been two British awards finalists, 18 Fulbright finalists and one Truman finalist.
“She created an environment where students are comfortable coming to seek advice, whether it is regarding career paths in the health professions or pursuing a national award,” Pramov said. “I believe her resource of experience and knowledge was most beneficial to Oxy.”
Hill is leaving Occidental to work for the Medical and Health Careers Program of UC Riverside, which is in the process of building a new medical school. Pramov said, “It was very hard for Gwen to leave the Oxy students,” but the position at UC Riverside is a “terrific opportunity.”
Jake Stevens (senior), a national finalist for the Truman Scholarship in 2007, worked with Hill on many applications. “Gwen really connected with students very closely and we all love her very much,” he said.
Pramov said it was a “pleasure” working with Hill. She said the college plans on finding a replacement for Hill.
Meanwhile, Pramov will continue to be the “support” and handle matters in the Office of Fellowships, Scholarships and National Awards.
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