NY Loft Directorship
In a 4,400-square-foot facility located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, you will find the Appalachian Loft -- a cozy unassuming floor designed to provide a hostel-type living environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni in New York City. The New York Loft program was created in 1973, providing an affordable and convenient environment for the Appalachian community.
When I started working full-time with AppState in 2016, I was able to participate in a faculty study away at the Loft. This is when I first became aware of this incredible resource. Since then I have often traveled back for work and leisure. Most recently I had the pleasure of serving as the Staff Director for 2.5 weeks over this past Winter Break. The guests that came through the Loft over my time there truly represented our diverse and vibrant AppState community; a recent alumnus between leases in the city, international students celebrating the New Year Holiday in Times Square, alumni attending a much-anticipated Phish concert, and a cohort of senior theater students attending live performances and conducting auditions with Julliard and cruise lines. There was plenty of downtime -- giving me the opportunity to visit sites like the Met Museums, be an audience member in the live-recording of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and even be in Times Square for the New Year’s celebration.
The Staff Director position at the Appalachian Loft in New York City is available to all full-time Appalachian staff (SHRA and EHRA non-faculty). A staff director is needed at the Loft for two brief periods during Winter Break. The Office of Finance and Operations sends out an official call for staff directorship applications at the beginning of each Fall Semester. Directors live in and keep up the daily operations of the Loft. If you have any questions about utilizing the loft for your travels to NYC or serving as a Staff Director, check out ny.appstate.edu or feel free to contact me with any questions!
Megan Kasper (she/they)
Associate Director of Community-Engaged Leadership / Director of the Leadership Studies Minor