Bio:
Anne Converse Willkomm is the Associate Dean of the Graduate College and an Associate Teaching Professor in the Communications Department within the College of Arts & Sciences at Drexel University. In her role as the Associate Dean, she oversees the Academic Administration Team and provides strategic leadership on all Graduate College initiatives benefiting the student population at the University. Associate Dean Willkomm also serves as an advocate for the general welfare of graduate students, including academic counseling for graduate students individually and/or in groups, building relationships between the Graduate College and graduate students, staff, and faculty across the University, and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the graduate student life cycle. Finally, she is the primary point of contact and escalation point for all graduate student-related issues.
In her faculty role, Willkomm teaches communication courses utilizing her years of experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. In addition, she maintains a blog – the Professional Buzz – where she explores relevant topics for working professionals and students about to enter the workforce. She has presented on a wide range of topics including: communication, empathy, leadership, influencing others, nonprofit management, soft skills, and effective presentations.
As a volunteer, she serves as an Alumni Fund Director for her undergraduate alma mater, Bowdoin College. In this role, she and the other directors guide how the college raises funds from the alumni and how unrestricted funds might best serve the Bowdoin Community. In addition, she serves as an executive board member of the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), specifically as part of the Executive board leadership. She earned her bachelor’s from Bowdoin College and her MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College.