Discover Your Perspective: Women in Leadership Panel

Meet Our Panel Whitney Comer, Director of Student Activities & Leadership at Coastal Carolina University Cheryl Grew-Gillen, Director of UC Facilities and Operations, University of Houston Dana Sample, Student Union Operations Coordinator, University of Alaska Anchorage Kim Zafft, Associate Director of Operations, University of Wyoming

Objectives for Today Develop strategies for future career planning within Activities and Operations; Identify various career path opportunities within the Student Union field; Develop a network of women professionals with similar career interests.

Whitney Comer Educational Background Undergraduate in Mass Communications/Journalism. Worked for 2 years in Newspapers. AppState University in Student Development. Career Highlights: Clemson University – 15,000 Associate Director of Student Media – 3 years Director of Student Activities – 4 years Student Affairs/Higher Education Break – 1.5 years – taught college skills classes & personal trainer business Coastal Carolina University – 9,000 Director of Student Activities and Leadership – present (3 years) – Lots of hats! Career Challenges: Breaking out of Student Media Life Balance issues Construction of a new building Doctorate – Yes or No?

Cheryl Grew-Gillen Educational Background Master of Science: Counseling and Human Development. Emphasis: Student Personnel Services. Bachelor of Science: Psychology and Community Services. Minor: Recreation. Career Transitions Institution 1: Activities Advisor years – 7300 students Institution 2: Director of Campus Activities - 3 years students – Assistant Director Union/Campus Activities - 3 years Institution 3: Director Student Union & Activities years – 4200 students Institution 4: Associate Director, UC & Associated Facilities - 6 years - 34,000 students – Director, UC Facilities and Operations - 2+ years - 39,000 students Career Transition Challenges: Opportunities to expand skills/experience Balancing having children and also changing institutions to take on positions with expanded responsibilities; Most challenging career transition – Getting from Small school to Large school Passed on applying for some very attractive professional opportunities due to anticipated impacts on family

Dana Sample Educational Background Master of Science: Higher Education Emphasis : College Student Personnel Bachelor of Science: Social Work Minor: Psychology Career Transitions Southern Illinois University Carbondale - 19,000 students Student Recreation Center - 4 years – Office Manager Financial Aid Office – 1 year – Office Manager Student Center – 2.5 years – Office Manager University Alaska of Anchorage - 20,000 students Student Union & Commuter Student Services – 2 years – Student Union Operations Coordinator Career Transition Challenges: Transitioning from an administrative assistant position into administrative/professional role. No Residence Life/Programming experience “Knew You When” syndrome at previous institution

Amy White Educational Background Master of Education: Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, University of Vermont Bachelor of Science: Psychology as a Natural Science, University of Michigan Career Transitions Residential Life: 3 institutions, 5 years total Leadership Education: 4 years, academic focus Camp Administration/Alumni Relations: 4 years Student Union Administration: 3 years Current role: Associate Director, Norris University Center, Northwestern University Career Transition Challenges: SO MANY possibilities!! How to decide where to live, type of institution, etc.? Developing relationships with relatively short stays Job-specific knowledge vs. transferable skills When to stay and when to go

Kim Zafft Education: Bachelors, Business Administration Masters, Public Administration First Career: 12 years sales and conference planning in the hotel industry in Denver, CO Career in Student Affairs: University of Wyoming Catering Manager - 1 ½ years Union Events Coordinator – 3 years Assistant Director, Activities/Involvement/Volunteer Programs – 6 years Associate Director, Operations – approx. 6 years and current position Challenges I’ve faced: Changing career path Demonstrating my abilities Having children and needing to make tough career decisions – balancing life and work Working in operations/facilities and earning the respect of male counterparts Examining career path when there is no opportunity to move away

Tips We Learned Along the Way Having a willing spouse or partner - flexible in their employment or will/can take turns on career moves. Say “Yes” where possible to new/different projects or assignments to obtain new skills or broaden work experience when asked Specific transition from activities to operations: take advantage of OTJ learning opportunities away from desk and get at the source of facility problems or challenges as much as possible; Know what is not negotiable for you. Consider the outside opportunities in job possibilities—PhD funding, committee work, collaboration. How can you develop skills even if not doing specific job tasks? Don’t forget that your skills are relevant outside your specific field Reviewing Job Descriptions of next step positions to work on building skills or finding committees, volunteer work, etc that help develop skills/experiences needed for next step Smaller schools seem to offer more opportunities for development in multiple areas. Specific transition from activities to operations: Volunteer for Campus Safety, Master Plan, Emergency Response Team, and various other committees that work with Facilities, Planning, Environmental Health & Safety. Take chances!!

QUESTIONS??