Intro by Nick Pantages
Reporting by Conor Rourke
Shortly after graduating last fall, Alice Mead got right back to work. Just three months post-grad, she accepted a position as the new Program Assistant for the Office of Student Engagement. This office was previously known as the Office of Student Activities. Mead’s role is to help organize pre-camp for first-year students and SpiritPalooza in the spring semester, but also to help out and guide the multitude of clubs and organizations on campus. Mead spoke with the student about her reaction to getting the job, adjusting to her new role, how it differs from what she has done in the past, and more.
The Student: What was your reaction when you found out that you earned this role and are back at Springfield College?
Mead: When I found out that I got this role, I was extremely excited, because I knew that that it meant I would be back with pre camp, which is by far one of my favorite programs I was a part of as a student, and now getting to be on the advisor side of things, it was a very eye opening experience, knowing that I was going to get to work with some of the best leaders on campus once again and then on the other side of things, the clips and orders aspect of the role would be something I was completely new to so I knew that I was going to be able to learn a lot, really quickly, which is something I’m always excited to do, and as Springfield College, we always want to keep learning more and more and I felt like this was the perfect place to keep doing that.
The Student: What is your new position?
Mead: All right, so for my role, I am one of the co-advisors for Pre-Camp, which is our pre-orientation program here at Springfield College, which takes place on East Campus. Outside of Pre-Camp, I get to help run and organize all of the clubs and organizations on campus as well, which includes doing the club fair and all the club trainings. So whatever everyone needs, from the advisors to student club leaders, I’m here to help them work.
The Student: How has it been adjusting to your new role?
Mead: Adjusting to my new role has definitely been a shift from going to student to now an employee. But any chance to be at Springfield College, I know that I’m gonna have a great time. It’s really fun seeing all these first-years in a new light, knowing that I’m not necessarily connecting with them on the student level, but as someone who they can go to for any questions or help about things on campus. I remember exactly what it was like my freshman year. It was only a few years ago, but I definitely am very happy, and the transition period is going really well.
The Student: How does this role differ from your past student leadership and involvement roles?
Mead: So for this new position, I feel like it differs a lot because I’m more on the behind the scenes part of things like from making sure everyone’s emails are all set to budgets, like working with our accounts and things like that. It’s something that I was never the one responsible for as a student. But now I get to really make sure that every club is set up to succeed, and it’s that rewarding aspect of making sure that everyone doesn’t have to deal with those ups and downs of the random things that you wouldn’t even necessarily think about as students. So it’s that aspect of seeing what needs to be done on a new level that I never really thought needed to be done.
The Student: What is the most exciting part of your job?
Mead: The most exciting part of this job is definitely just being back on campus and even connecting with my old professors, but also the student leaders who I was in the club with. I just love being in that family feeling environment, whether it’s back in the Student Engagement Office. This was an office that I basically grew up in the last four years, and helped transformed me into the person I am today. So being able to give back and see these first year students in the light that I was once in is definitely the most exciting part to know they have so much coming for them the next four years.
The Student: What are your short and long term goals for this position?
Mead: I guess my goal with this position is leaving things better than I found it in a way, setting everyone up for success in the future, whether that’s a week from now or a month from now. I want to make sure that whatever I’m creating is something that can be long lasting, way beyond my years here or however long it’ll end up, but it’ll be a great experience to build on what the foundation that was already created and continue to do so for the next person.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Student Engagement