MORGANTOWN — Moving to a college campus can be nerve-racking not just for the students, but for their parents who leave them behind.

Lisa Hanselman, director of the Mountaineer Parents Club, is determined to help make the transition to West Virginia University easier.

Described by students, faculty and staff as a “campus mom,” Hanselman helps bridge the gap between Mountaineers and their parents throughout the academic year, fostering student independence while keeping families in the loop about life on campus.

“People will say ‘They’re in college. They’re 18. Their parents shouldn’t be involved,’ but that’s not realistic,” Hanselman said. “You can’t just turn off concern for your child because they turn 18 and live somewhere else. In fact, them living somewhere else ramps up your concern. You don’t know if they ate dinner, if they’ve washed their sheets or where they go at night. We try to find a balance. It’s OK to be a little involved.”

Hanselman grew up in Morgantown and attended WVU, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1988. She then moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she met her husband of 30 years, Mark, during a baseball game on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. She briefly returned to WVU to earn a Master of Art in Sport Management in 1993, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2002, the Hanselman family decided to permanently return to Morgantown.

“We loved living in Charlotte, but my husband’s company was precarious,” she said. “I had two small boys that we wanted to raise near grandparents, and my husband wanted to complete his degree, so moving home and being part of WVU just seemed like the best idea.”

Upon her return, Hanselman decided take a temp job with the Mountaineer Parents Club.

“I thought that it would be a good job until I figured things out,” Hanselman recalled. “About three months in, I realized that I liked the work. I met other University staff and parent volunteers, and I’m still friends with some of them. Through the job, I realized I was meeting so many parents, and I liked them.”

Hanselman’s temporary job turned into a full-time position and, over the past two decades, she has served with the Mountaineer Parents Club as a program assistant, assistant director and now director.

As her three sons grew, two decided to attend WVU, giving her a new perspective about the anxieties Mountaineer families can have about their students.

“It’s a very different experience when it’s your child,” she said. “It helped because I very much understand what families are going through. I always wondered what I didn’t know about my sons’ experiences.”

For months leading up to Welcome Week, Hanselman spends her days sharing important information via webinars, emails and Facebook groups to prepare families for the first semester at WVU.

By the time they arrive on campus, Hanselman and the Mountaineer Parents Club serve as a reassuring presence to freshmen families. Throughout the first weekend, they host “I Survived Move-In” receptions for families to relax and interact.

“One thing I hear all the time is ‘I remember you,'” she said. “If families feel like they know someone at WVU, they feel better about things. They might not know who to contact in Housing and Residence Life, but they know the Parents Club, so they’ll ask us, and we’ll connect them to the right person.

“Eventually, they realize that WVU is less a massive institution and more a community of people who want to help.”

The Mountaineer Parents Club serves students and their families from New Student Orientation to Commencement. Throughout a students’ time at WVU, Hanselman organizes events, such as Fall Family Weekend, to help families stay connected. She also continues to update Parents Club members on campus happenings and is available to respond to parent concerns.

“Maybe they haven’t heard from their child in several days,” she said. “We can check and see that someone has eyes on them. I’m happy to call the student as well and just check in and make sure they’re doing what they need to do. A lot of times students are just busy, but if there is a larger concern, we can connect parents with the right resources.”

When not working, Hanselman enjoys baking and traveling with her husband. While an empty nester herself now, she said she is always willing to fill her “campus mom” role.

“I love Welcome Week. I love Fall Family Weekend and NSO, but my favorite part of the job is whenever I get to meet a family and have a conversation, whether they have a question or want to get to know us,” she said.

“I like being involved. I don’t mind being everybody’s mom.”