St. Bonaventure University appointed Tom Delaney, Ph.d, as the interim director of the wellness center for the 2016 spring semester.
The former director, Roger Keener, Ph.d, resigned from the position in December.
Delaney worked with for the university for 40 years as a part of the school of education, and said he is happy to help out the university during this time.
“It is a pleasure to be here and assist the university through the transition to a new permanent center director,” Delaney said. “This is a temporary appointment, and I will be onboard only through May. I felt the university could have been in a tight spot without a director as the former director resigned, so I decided to take the position, assist in hiring a new permanent director and introduce some professional changes.”
Delaney helped instate the psychological services that are provided by the school’s counseling center, was granted the Professional Excellence in Service Award in 2006, and has worked at the rehabilitation center in Cattaraugus County since 1978 as supervising psychologist.
“I have a background in counseling psychology, I am a licensed psychologist in New York, have practiced in the Olean community for many years and was a professor in the counseling graduate program until my retirement from the university,” Delaney said.
Delaney said he plans to change the functioning of the wellness center, beginning with appointment times. Delaney said evening appointments will be available from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
“We have hired two new counselors to be onboard in the next few weeks,” Delaney said. “I plan to do some training with the (residential assistant) and (residential director) staff (so I) look forward to a busy and rewarding semester.”
Students also find themselves having a reason to be excited about the changes that Delany has decided to make to the wellness center, including freshman Andrew Hayn.
“It’s great that the wellness center is now offering appointments during later hours,” Hayn said. “It makes accessing the wellness center much more convenient, and I think it will be very beneficial towards students.”
mackree15@bonaventure.edu
