The Hawks Nest, aptly named for gathering Chowan’s fledgling flock of students, is beautifully designed with large open spaces filled with sofas, cafe tables, big screen televisions, a cafeteria and Starbucks coffee shop. On the perimeter are open offices housing the Department of Student Experience and Success as well as the Director of Business and Industry.

The Department of Student Experience and Success is perfectly named for what they do. Hope Rogers is sitting at her desk in a colorful room with garland swathed from the rafters and motivational posters on the walls. Hope is Chowan’s Student Success Navigator. She comes to us from Davis and Elkins College where she earned a BS in Sports Management. She has a double minor in Business and Nonprofit. While she works with students possibly needing encouragement or assistance adapting to university life, or perhaps help with a class, she is working on her Masters of Organizational Leadership. Hope says with a joyful countenance and a smile on her face, “I love helping people!”

Matthew Follis is in his office with the door open speaking with a student pitching an idea for an activity. Mathew, Students Activity Coordinator, comes from New York. He attended The University of Delaware and Wilmington University in Delaware where he was a Cheerleader. While at the University of Delaware his Division One College team earned two National Championships. His job is multifaceted as he works with the university in providing enriching, fun activities for students. At the Something Sweet activity following move-in day for freshmen they came to  the Hawks Nest finding games, music, cookies and brownies and positive upperclassmen to welcome them. Matthew says, “They were laughing, smiling and dancing and having a really good time. It was great to see smiles of joy on their faces.”

Harri Lovett, Director of Business and Industry Partnerships can be seen through the big windows speaking with a local business owner, possibly finding an internship for a student; he could be asking for a mentorship to help a business major interested in how to start his own company. Coming into Mr. Lovett’s space is a comfortable sitting room with soft couches and chairs, counters with computers and visual access to his office. An upperclassman is waiting to see him, possibly for help with a resume or an application for a work study position.

Looking from Mr. Lovett’s windowed office, one can see men playing pool and badminton, a line including students and one professor at Starbucks, and a gathering of young women laughing as they walk towards a grouping of couches. The Hawks Nest, in just an hour, provides community, a connection, and a place to rest while building a better future.