Where Are They Now?

Grad Program: Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology

Residential Life Assistantship: Student Service Coordinator from 2023-2025

 

I came to Mankato to further my education in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. This position allowed me to be able to afford my masters degree and gain hands on experience supervising students.

 

I am working as a Residential Life Coordinator at California State University Monterey Bay. I am also doing consulting work as a mental performance coach as well. If you would like to know more about my work follow me on Instagram @yourmentalperformancecoach

 

I loved the desk assistants. Watching their leadership grow and helping them navigate problems filled my cup. I loved our monthly team meetings and creating a team for our front desk. I still keep in contact with them to this day.

 

My experience as an SSC provided me with a strong foundation of skills that directly support my success in my current role. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of clear and thorough written communication, understanding that if something isn’t documented, it essentially didn’t happen. This has enhanced my ability to maintain accurate records and ensure accountability. Additionally, my previous experience with move-in operations has been instrumental, as I now work closely with housing move-in processes. I often draw upon my prior experiences to improve efficiency and provide meaningful insight to the team. The administrative skills I developed as an SSC, such as documenting performance meetings, managing check-out schedules, and facilitating mediation meetings, have proven highly transferable. These experiences strengthened my organization, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple priorities effectively. Lastly, hosting team meetings as an SSC prepared me for leading weekly Monday meetings in my current role. The facilitation, communication, and leadership skills I gained have been invaluable in creating structure, fostering collaboration, and maintaining team engagement.

 

I would say hands down my team meetings at the Preska Front Desk. For three straight semesters I had perfect attendance every meeting and we would hold interactive meetings to get to know everyone. Our last meeting we ended up doing a TikTok trend where I had to guess everyone by their voice and it was fun to see how they tried to trick me.

• Grad Program: Master’s in Data Science
• Residential Life Assistantship: Student Service Coordinator from 2023-2024
• Why did you come to MSU? I came to MSU because of its well-structured Data Science program and the diverse resources that help in enhancing both technical and professional skills. The availability of cutting-edge tools and a supportive academic environment made MSU an ideal choice for me to advance my knowledge and career.
• Where are you currently working and in what capacity? I am currently working as a Data Scientist at Christensen Farms.
• What did you enjoy about being an SSC? I enjoyed being a part of a large, professional team with great leadership. Working alongside experienced individuals gave me insights into leadership and teamwork, and I built lifelong friendships. The role was fulfilling because it combined responsibility with community building, giving me the chance to contribute to the students' experience and my personal growth.
• How have the experiences and skills you gained from being an SSC helped you in your current role? The organizational skills I developed as an SSC have been invaluable in my current role. Coordinating with team members, setting priorities, and managing workloads are essential skills that I apply every day in my internship. Additionally, the leadership abilities I built as an SSC have helped me take initiative in projects, lead discussions, and efficiently balance multiple responsibilities between work and academics.
• What is your favorite experience/memory of being an SSC? My favorite memories include monthly meetings with my desk assistants, where we could reflect on our progress and brainstorm new ideas for improving operations. I also loved participating in WOW events, where we engaged with the wider community. Lunch meetings with my Hall Directors and supervisor were always fun and insightful. These moments not only made the job enjoyable but also left a lasting impact on me professionally and personally.