Just months before thousands of students take their first steps on campus, the AMS is rushing to fill two Orientation Round Table (ORT) Director roles after the sudden resignations of both the ORT Coordinator and the Assistant Coordinator.
In an interview with The Journal, AMS president, Jana Amer, confirmed the resignation of both directors. While hiring has been open just recently, these roles will still be tentatively held by Ali Haider, HealthSci’26 and Jessica Lee, HealthSci’25, until their respective roles are filled.
“How it came about is more internal, and it’s more personal,” Amer said in an interview with The Journal. “So, that’s something that we just can’t share. But we’re trying to get some interest and restart the hiring process for our two vacant positions,” Amer continued.
The goal, according to Amer, is to have a new ORT coordinator and Assistant Coordinator hired and ratified by the AMS Assembly by August, just in time for the orientation period, which includes executive pre-week, leader training, and student events in the last two weeks of August.
The Journal reached out to Haider and Lee confirming whether it was true that they’re leaving due to commitments to medical school, and if the leave in position was something they had anticipated. However, both declined to comment.
Currently, ORT is operating under a six-director model led by Haider, with roles covering systems and , equity, logistics, coordination, and sponsorship. Despite the vacancies, “planning for orientation is ongoing,” and the team is “hoping to expand our ORT team” to ensure smooth execution says Amer.
Amer acknowledged that the biggest challenge facing the new coordinator will be adapting quickly to the high-demand role. To the transition, AMS has already initiated documentation efforts, transition planning, and structured shadowing opportunities with outgoing leaders.
“We want them to feel confident and comfortable in their role,” said Amer. “The institutional memory is the hardest part to on, but we’re doing everything we can to make that easier.
In a statement to The Journal on May 22, the AMS reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the quality and spirit of Orientation Week despite the “unexpected departures,” the statement read:
“Despite these unexpected departures, the AMS remains fully committed to delivering a high-quality, meaningful, and safe Orientation Week,” the statement read. “We fully recognize the importance of preserving the traditions and values that incoming students are excited about. In response to these changes, we are actively restructuring and rehiring the ORT leadership team to adapt to the current situation.”
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