Sophia Rome ’25 will replace Ingrid Dornbirer ’24 as ​​the director of the Student Activities Office in June. 

“I love the people in the SAO office so much. Working with them every single day sounds so fun,” Rome said. “They’re all really awesome people, the students, and they love their jobs. They put so much into it.” 

Dornbirer, who grew up in rural Ohio, plans to move to Pittsburgh after marrying her fiancé, Dean Ballantyne ’24, in July.

“I am so excited for Sophia,” Dornbirer said. “There really isn’t anyone else I would entrust my team to, because I love my team a lot.” 

Dornbirer said while she was a student, and later as SAO director, Concert on the Quad was her favorite event, though she still appreciates bigger events like President’s Ball and Garden Party.

“Something I’ve learned in this job, I think, is that an event, to be a party, or to be an event, requires three different aspects, and it’s people, food and music,” Dornbirer said. “Concert on the Quad is the perfect example of that.”

Originally from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Rome graduated with a history degree and a minor in dance. She said she enjoyed homecoming week and organizing events as a resident assistant in Olds and Sohn residences.

“I loved homecoming as an RA. Putting on homecoming was so fun,” Rome said. “Freshman year, participating in it was really, really fun. That’s where I got to know a lot of my friends throughout all of college.”

Rome said she will start working with Dornbirer to learn her new role at SAO on March 23. Dornbirer said that an average day in the life of the director is full of responding to emails, organizing the calendar, and making sure the student team is ready for upcoming events. 

“Sophia will be learning the role while I am here, but she will start to do more tasks herself in the summer,” Dornbirer said.

Rachel Marinko ’20, director of student programming, said Dornbirer has excellent organizational skills. 

“She has been such a joy to work with,” Marinko said. “She has a great eye for aesthetics and the little details that elevate an event. She is also so kind and caring and just a joy to be around. I will miss her!” 

Marinko said that she encouraged Rome to apply when the position opened over winter break. Rome was an RA in Olds during one of Marinko’s three years as the house director. 

“As an RA she was such a hard worker, a natural at event planning, and always an enthusiastic and encouraging person,” Marinko said. “I’m excited to see what unique things Sophia will contribute.”

Dornbirer’s last day in the SAO office will be June 30. 

“I was nervous about the transition and thinking about who’s going to steward this team really well and be their friend and mentor,” Dornbirer said. “And there’s no one more deserving. She’s gonna kill it.”