Johnathan Atkinson

Where are you working right now?

I am a graduate assistant at Montserrat College of Art in the Department of Campus Life. I supervise four resident assistants, and serve as a conduct officer. Alongside being the advisor to the student government known as Montserrat Student Voice.

What do you love about working there?

The student population is absolutely the best part of my job working at Montserrat, the opportunity that I have to learn from my students and realizing that they have as much to offer me as I do them.  Also working at a small institution reminds me of my alma mater and why that’s important is as small colleges we get to know our students one-on-one in that connection I help students.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?

My free time is spent by going to the movie theaters, catching up on Netflix, enjoying a really good NBA game and hanging out with friends.

What is your favorite grad school class and why?

I would have to say my favorite class so far is student development theory because my goal is to help students reach their full potential and be the best part of themselves.  The theories give me a framework for how students may identify and development gives me an opportunity to help students move forward.

Who inspired you to get involved in Higher Education?

I was one of the most involved students in my undergraduate institution, (Mitchell College) I had the unique opportunity to work in just about every department and find my passion in student affairs work. But I would have to say the two people that inspired me to go to grad school and to really pursue a career would have to be my supervisors and mentors Jamia Danzy and Isaac Newsome. They saw potential in me, as resident assistant they both helped me give me direction.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career (so far)?

Adversity defines one’s character it all depends on how we choose to overcome the hard times.

What is on your Higher Ed bucket list?

My career goals are to reform the education process in our country, for education to focus more on individual’s needs so that each person can learn in a student-centered environment which strengthens and develops students to reach their highest potential. I think that if I were the president of a college, I would be able to make strides on a smaller scale as a model for what would work in higher education in our country. There are individual learning styles and not everyone learns the same way, so if we have a system in which each student can access their learning via their own style, they will be more successful in reaching their goals. This would escalate us as a society, to reach and find new abilities that we haven’t yet attained. I think as a student with a diagnosed learning difference, I have had to overcome a lot of adversity with how to learn and what works best for me. I want to see students succeed, to achieve the most they can possibly achieve, because college is the most critical time to develop a sense of self, and it can easily make or break an individual. So if students are shown how utilize all the resources available, as I have, they will be more successful in college and beyond.

What advice would you offer to undergraduate seniors who are starting to search for grad programs?

My advice to undergraduate seniors pursuing is to look for grad school early on in your senior year so you have options. Also look for programs with fellowships and assistantships so you can get the opportunity to put theory into practice.

Christina Mchugh

Where are you working right now?

-I am currently a graduate assistant at New England College in the office of Diversity and Inclusion along with the staff advisor for Adventure bound which is a student run organization that facilitates school programs along with our educational ropes course. I collectively oversee approximately 60 students.

What do you love about working there?

-The close-knit family feel is extremely important because I came from a fairly small undergraduate program and high school. New England College is in a small secluded rural area, close enough to a larger city, and yet has a small-town feel. The staff, faculty, and students have made me feel included and welcomed from the first day I stepped foot on campus. I am encouraged daily by my peers, students, and mentors to strive for success.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?

-My free time is spent by seeing athletic games collegiate and professional. Growing up in a predominantly male household, I have become accustomed to enjoying athletic games. I also, enjoy cooking. A typical Sunday night involves football on the tv, and something in the oven.

What is your favorite grad school class and why?

-My favorite grad class thus far would have to be helping and advising college students. My dreams and goals are to inspire the younger generations to have goals and dreams, then achieve them. In this course I was encouraged to have the uncomfortable conversation with a student, then how to advise them to the best of my abilities.

Who inspired you to get involved in Higher Education?

-To be frank, it was myself. My undergraduate degree was something I knew when I was a senior I was no longer passionate about. I, then realized I should get more education. I started my Graduate degree pursuing a MBA, after taking 5 weeks of classes it was obvious that I was still in the wrong field. I, then, turned to my mentors from my undergrad and my current boss, asking if it made sense to purse a degree in HEA. The answer was unanimous and obvious to everyone but myself.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career (so far)?

-The most valuable lesson I have learned thus far in my career would be, failure is okay. It is what you do after you fail that makes or breaks you.

What is on your Higher Ed bucket list?

-My ultimate end goal in life would be, to become a Dean of Students. I care deeply about the voice a student has. Both my undergraduate and graduate schools have a DOS who inspire students every day. I want students to be able to walk into my office and feel welcomed, and more importantly safe.

-Another notch on my higher ed bucket list would be to work somewhere outside of my geographic region (north east). I would like to experience cultural differences we have in this country. I grew up in an urban area, and have attended institutions in rural areas. I would love to work somewhere on the west coast or in the south.

What advice would you offer to undergraduate seniors who are staring to search for grad programs?
-Look for graduate assistantships. Do not depend your entire search on them however, they are a great deal of help financially and developmentally. Regardless if a student is looking into HEA, the process of finding an institution should be much different than when they were looking at undergraduate programs.

-It is okay to go into a graduate program that has NOTHING to do with your undergraduate degree.

-Go to grad school because you want to, not because it is the next logical step. Education is something no one can take away from you, use it in such a way that it transforms

Where are you working right now?

I serve as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Community Standards at the University of Connecticut. In this position I serve as a student conduct officer and investigate potential student code violations. I resolve the alleged incidents via UConn’s conduct process, up to student dismissal from the institution. I also have the opportunity to work with our CARE Team or threat assessment committee at the university by collecting and organizing student data. Most of my job involves 1:1 meetings with students and I do my best to balance empathy and accountability to ensure students are able to both individually succeed and positively contribute to the UConn community.

What do you love about working there?

Student Conduct work has a lot of opportunity for student education and I enjoy helping students better understand their decision-making process and how to experience growth from mistakes. In conduct I need to utilize a lot of different skills. For example, the basics of how to investigate under the preponderance of evidence standard but also how to deescalate an angry student. I appreciate the challenge that innately comes with the work and the development/support I’ve received from the professional staff in the office.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?

Every two weeks or so I get wings at my favorite place in Connecticut. Beyond that bi-weekly reward, I like to read, watch TV, gym as a de-stress, and have game nights.

What is your favorite grad school class and why?

Law & Ethics in Higher Education has been my favorite class. We were taught to understand different federal regulations and how they apply to our work. Case law was used a lot to demonstrate the inequalities within higher education and the class integrated a social justice lens in the context of critiquing law and responding to crisis. I found discussions around ethics interesting and the class helped me gain a better understanding of the responsibilities practitioners have to students.

Who inspired you to get involved in Higher Education?

My experience at DePaul University in Chicago, IL shaped a lot of my desire to go into Student Affairs. I was a Resident Assistant for three year and worked in the LGBTQA Student Services Office. I connected a lot to the mission of the university as Catholic and Vincentian. I had a great Residence Hall Director, Travis Whisler, who is now the Assistant Director of Residence Life at St. Peter’s University, who guided me towards Student Affairs as a profession. I know the impact that DePaul had on me as a person and I hope to pay that forward to others.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career (so far)?

The value of listening to others, whether that is students or colleagues. Students need to feel heard and listening to colleagues allows you to better understand how to work with them and be a positive contribution to a team.

What is on your Higher Ed bucket list?

My first step is to hopefully find a position in student conduct at some point in my career. I’d love to be able to apply what I’ve learned as graduate student to a full-time position.

What advice would you offer to undergraduate seniors who are staring to search for grad programs?

The advice I would give undergraduate seniors is to know what you want from a program and prioritize. Do you want a program that is more counseling-based, research, administrative, or a mix? Is a cohort-based program want you want or is that not important? Look at the curriculums of different programs and compare and contrast. If you have any questions I’ve found that people in programs are more than willing to offer advice. Never be afraid to send an email or reach out.

Riley Fickett, Student Event & Special Programs Coordinator, Mount Holyoke College

What is your current position at the Mount Holyoke?

I am the Student Event & Special Programs Coordinator. My main responsibilities are to work with our 130 student organizations on the creation and execution of their events and to create special programming sponsored by the Office of Student Programs which includes bus trips, movie nights, outdoor festivals, and everything in between! I also advise the Student Programming Board and the Sophomore and Junior Class Boards.

What do you love about working at Mount Holyoke?

I love working with our students! Mount Holyoke students are from all over the country and world (we have about a 30% International Student population!) and each one of them is so, so talented. I am constantly blown away with the drive and ambition, their passion for world issues and activism, and their overall commitment to making the world a more inclusive and accepting place. As a professional I am constantly being challenged to think and act outside of my comfort zone and as a result have grown tremendously as a professional and as a person and it’s all thanks to the students that I work with.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?

I’m a long-distance runner and am currently training for my fourth marathon! I’m a big fan of spending time outside, especially when the weather is warm. I also really love to read, draw, paint, play video games, and blog!

Who inspired you to get involved in Higher Education?

My mentors at my undergraduate institution Lasell College – Jennifer Granger and Kelly O’Shaughnessey. I had a bit of a second-semester-Senior-Year crisis while in college and knew that I didn’t really want to pursue a career in my major. I knew that I loved working in my many roles at the college and it was Jenny and Kelly that taught me what the field of Higher Education was all about. They were both my guides in figuring this path out, getting into graduate school, and even with my post-grad job search! I can’t say how much I appreciate them.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career (so far)?

Self. Care. We preach it all of the time in this field and taking self care seriously has been invaluable to me through my graduate experience and through my first year as a professional. It is for both my benefit and for the benefit of the students I work with as well. It is OKAY to step away from your work and focus on yourself or whatever makes you happy. At the end of the day, work will always be there waiting for you, but if you burn yourself out you won’t be able to serve your students effectively.

What is on your Higher Ed bucket list?

I would love to eventually end up on the Leadership Development or Leadership Education path. Seeing students find their voices as leaders has always been my favorite part of the job and to be able to learn and teach about leadership development theories and practices or maybe even create a leadership development curriculum at an institution would be an incredible experience for me!

What advice would you offer to new professionals who are starting their first professional position?

As a new professional, it was really hard for me to find the courage to speak up and share my opinions. I often felt that in my first year that it was more important for me to learn the culture of the campus and understand my surroundings before inserting my own thoughts and ideas into the conversation. Looking back on my first year, I wish I had challenged myself to conquer those fears and share what was on my mind more often. A lot of the time one of the reasons you’re being hired because you will give your campus or organization a fresh set of eyes. While it is very important to learn the culture of your new environment, your colleagues also want to hear what you have to say to gain that new perspective. Definitely pay attention to the environment around you, but don’t be afraid to speak up!