Headshot of registrar Sarah Iverson in front of blurred outdoor background
Trinity Welcomes a New Registrar
The "heartbeat of the campus" grows stronger with Sarah Iverson P'24

Following the retirement of long-time registrar Alfred Rodriguez, the search for his replacement didn’t have to extend far. From her office right next door, Sarah Iverson P'24, the former associate registrar and Rodriguez’s close co-worker, eagerly stepped up to the job. Although she hasn’t yet had the time to fully move into her new office (spring registration requires all hands on deck), she has plunged into her new role with the expertise that only years of experience can provide. 

Upon Iverson’s promotion, Vice President for Academic Affairs Megan Mustain said, “The student body couldn’t be in better hands with Iverson at the helm of the registrar’s office. With her vast institutional knowledge, technical and problem-solving skills, the respect and enthusiastic support of the Trinity community, and compassionate stewardship of our academic records, Sarah is well-positioned to lead the registrar’s office.”

Iverson began her career at Trinity in 2003, when the registrar’s office was still in the Heidi Lounge and all of the student records were physical files. “There was an island of file cabinets, paper everywhere. Everything was done by paper.” She started as the graduation coordinator, then became the degree audit coordinator, then the assistant registrar, then the associate registrar, and now the registrar. 

Iverson’s dedication to the University can be seen in the way she helps students grapple with the often stressful registration process. “One of my goals is to try to alleviate some of the stress behind registration,” she says. “It always works out, it’s a long process, but we’re just trying to make things a little easier. We play a very important role. We’re really the heartbeat of the campus in many ways.”

Not only is she connected to the students through the registration process, she is also a Trinity parent. Aside from her love of her job and her desire to help students graduate, this is one of the reasons she has stayed at Trinity for so long. 

Speaking of skills, a math-savvy brain is a must, with all of the data crunching involved in creating schedules and maintaining files for the entire student body. She knows the ins and outs of the admittedly clunky student information system, to the point that she is certified to teach it to new members of the registrar’s office. The job isn’t wholly analytical, though. She also has to connect with students, which she says is easy since she’s the parent of a Trinity student: 

“I’m a parent, so I like working with the students. I completely empathize with the student experience and recognize the many hurdles students face as they navigate college life. My door is always open to students.”

Looking to the future, Iverson hopes to continue to digitize the registration process until no physical paper is needed. Progress toward this goal is being made everyday. Most recently, the course withdrawal forms were moved online, making the withdrawal process easier for students and professors. Additionally, the registrar’s office is responsible for every former and current students’ files, making the digitization process essential. 

All told, Iverson enters her new position with a wealth of knowledge, a passion for the job, and a personal connection to Trinity. 

 

Matilda Krell '23 helps tell Trinity's story as a writing intern for Trinity University Strategic Communications and Marketing.

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