President Steven R. DiSalvo, PhD is the 10th President of Saint Anselm College and the first lay president.

The college’s website says “He has advanced the college’s national reputation through scholarship, athletics and via the prestigious New Hampshire Institute of Politics operated by the college.”

Helping DiSalvo accomplish all of this are his new special assistants, senior Abby Smith and junior Cody Aubin. Both politics majors, these two students provide executive level support to Dr. DiSalvo with college wide activities. The internship is paid, but does not count for academic credit.

This is Smith and Aubin’s first year holding the title of special assistant to the president. The past two years Kevin Ward, Class of 2012, held the position. The position immersed Ward in politics and leadership. After graduation Ward went on to work at television stations like Fox News, and is currently working for CBS in New York.

The job of special assistant includes interacting, coordinating, and supporting a variety of constituencies including students, colleagues, alumni, partners, and other contacts.

According Smith and Aubin, they meet with DiSalvo on a weekly basis to help form his schedule and address any other things he may need assistance with. They even go to home football games with DiSalvo and helped work Saint Anselm’s alumni awards.

“We’re his right-hand men,” Aubin said. “But we’re more behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Smith said that one of her favorite moments working for DiSalvo so far was the Politics and Egg (P&E) brunch with U.S. Rep. Robert Lewis, D-GA.

Elected into the House of Representatives in the 1980’s, Lewis has made a life out of politics. He even helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.’s march on Washington after graduating college. NHIOP hosts the Politics and Eggs brunch to connect politicians to the nearby public and share ideas.

“Through working with Dr. DiSalvo, I was able to greet Congressman Lewis when he first arrived at the NHIOP,” Smith said.

“It was very humbling to watch him walk through the café and shake every student’s hand that he passed. It is an honor to be able to represent the college and work with the President at high profile events like the P&E with Congressman Lewis.”

Dr. DiSalvo said that he hopes this job will give Smith and Aubin leadership experiences, and teach them how to effectively staff a senior executive. He had nothing but praise when talking to The Crier about Smith and Aubin’s contributions.

“Abby and Cody are both exemplary Anselmians whose professionalism and attention to detail, as well as their knowledge and support of the Saint Anselm College mission, vision and values, have made them assets to my office and to the NHIOP in the time they have been working with us,” Dr. DiSalvo said.

As a junior, Aubin said he hopes to stay with this job for his senior year.

“I believe I’ll have the opportunity to continue in the future,” Aubin said. “It is a great way to set up job opportunities.”

Smith, however, has already gotten some job opportunities due to the involvement and exposure the position offers. She was just hired by Fox News to work the election and inauguration, and plans to be in New York City on Nov. 8.