Miami University has chosen Katie Wilson, currently Miami’s senior director of student engagement for the Office of Student Activities and Leadership, to be the director for the school’s much anticipated Armstrong Student Center (ASC).

Miami’s student affairs committee interviewed over 50 applicants in an open process, including applicants outside of Miami.

According to Scott Walter, vice president of student affairs, it was Wilson’s substantial background in student affairs, experience with and knowledge of Miami and her desire to have the position that helped her stand apart from the other applicants.

Wilson said the great relationships she has built with students around campus will be a helpful component to her success.

“The hallmark of Miami is that we have such an engaged student body,” Wilson said. “My goal is that the student center reflects that.”

Her priorities for her first year as director of the ASC include first and foremost the hiring of a staff that shares her goals for the center.

She said she also plans to make sure the ASC is student-centered, and to aid in helping the center to run successfully.

Wilson also said she intends to set up a student board, in addition to mapping out the policies, processes and functions of all aspects of the facility.

“My goal is to live up to the vision Miami has for it, for it to be entirely student-centered,” she said.

When asked about the pressure of serving as the first director of the ASC, Wilson has no delusions.

“I think it’s going to be a challenging position, that’s the word I’d use,” Wilson said.

Junior Angela Marco had a few suggestions for how Wilson can answer that question.

“I think that English classes should allow for her to come in and talk about it,” Marco said. “I tend to overlook e-mails, posters and table tents. An info table at the entryway in King might be helpful too.”

Senior Courtney Carothers said she hopes the new facility will serve students’ needs in between their hectic class schedules.

“I just hope they keep in mind class schedules so that students can easily get in and out during the ‘in between times’ of classes,” Carothers said.

When Wilson starts her role in January of 2013 there will be a centralized point of contact for how the building will operate.

“She’ll be able to formulate answers to questions from students about how the building will benefit them,” Walter said. “We want it to be the center point of campus, for students and about students.”