Meet The SMSU Admission Staff

Recruitment Territory: Lyon County

Favorite Movie or TV show: Anastasia

Favorite musician or type of music: Pop, Country and Broadway show tunes - the kind of music that's great to sing in your car.

Favorite food: Ice cream

What you LOVE about working in the office: I love getting to help students navigate the college admission process. When I was a senior in high school, I was utterly confused by the whole process, and I probably made it way more stressful and confusing for myself than it needed to be. I hope that by working in the SMSU Admission Office I'm making future students' experiences much more positive.

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I started working at SMSU in August 2018 as an admission counselor. In May of 2023 I was promoted to Director of Admission. My team here is awesome and I feel really fortunate to get to work with them!

Hobby or pastime: Playing and coaching lacrosse, reading and baking. I also love to garden, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a gardener!

One thing you love about SMSU: I think getting a well-rounded education is really valuable, no matter what you end up studying, which is why I love SMSU’s Liberal Education program and focus on hands-on learning. I also love SMSU's annual Mud Volleyball tournament during Gold Rush Days. It's a ton of fun and hilarious to watch!

Any other interesting facts about yourself: I've lived in 5 states and every time zone in the US except Mountain Time. I'd like to visit all 50 states before I'm 50!

Recruitment Territory: South Central MN, Mountain West US

Other duties in the office: Transfer Counselor and Athletic Liaison

Favorite Movie or TV show: Blacklist

Favorite musician or type of music:  90’s Rock and Alternative

Favorite food: Fajitas

What you LOVE about working in the office: The team of people we have makes it a great environment to work and an awesome experience for prospective students.

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU):  Graduate of SMSU ’01 and ’07; and worked in the Office of Admission for 8 years and also coached wrestling for 5 seasons.

Hobby or pastime:  Camping/Fishing/Hunting

One thing you love about SMSU: From department to department, corner to corner, the faculty and staff have a student centered philosophy.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: 

Recruitment Territory: Northwest MN & North Dakota

Other duties in the office: Event planning

Favorite Movie and TV show: Remember the Titans and New Girl

Favorite musician or type of music: Taylor Swift

Favorite food: Ice cream—anytime, anywhere

What you LOVE about working in the office: Working in the Admission Office merges my two passions; getting to work with students on their educational goals in order to better their future and office treats.

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I started working at SMSU in July 2020 but being born and raised in Marshall I feel like I’ve been a part of SMSU my entire life. I graduated with my MBA from SMSU December 2021.

Hobby or pastime: I love to travel and do adventures things; the further away and more obscure the better!
One thing you love about SMSU: SMSU to me is home. The relationships that are formed here reach far beyond graduation whether that be relationships with professors, staff, mentors, and amongst students themselves. It’s a rewarding thing to witness as students come into their own during their 4 years with us.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: I’ll try anything (other than distance running) once; skydiving, bungee jumping, eating insects, cage diving with sharks … why not, right?

Recruitment Territory:Southwest MN, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska

Other duties in the office: Slate Team Captain

Favorite Movie or TV show: Avengers: Endgame

Favorite musician or type of music: Classic Rock

Favorite food: Spaghetti

What you LOVE about working in the office: The way the staff jokes and laughs with each other.

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU):  I transferred to SMSU Spring semester in 2016. Graduated in May 2018 with a degree in Psychology. I worked as a Director of the YMCA for 4 years where I hired over 100 SMSU students. I started as an Admission Counselor in 2022 and currently I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education.

Hobby or pastime:    Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Anything outside

One thing you love about SMSU: The friendly community and the ease of getting connected to great experiences that will grow you professionally and personally.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: I was born and raised in the Colorado mountains. We have a town festival called “Burro Days” and at this event we race Burros (aka: Donkeys) to the top of a mountain pass and back (32ish miles). I have raced in the short course (15 miles) and placed 8^th. It is still my favorite race I have ever competed in and I hope to compete again soon! Look it up! It’s a must see if you ever go visit Colorado.  

Recruitment Territory:  Northern MN, & Central MN.
Other duties in the office: Whatever I’ve been tasked with at a given moment.
Favorite Movie or TV show: The Office, 30 Rock, Bar Rescue, Neighborhood & Customer Wars, Ridiculousness, & Catfish.
Favorite musician or type of music:  I listen to just about anything that isn’t rock.
Favorite food: Used to be stuffed crusted garbage (everything) pizza with a chicken creaser salad, & a slice of French Silk pie for desert.
What you LOVE about working in the office: Just the laughing that come with this group of people, there is never a dull moment, & silence doesn’t last very long here!

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I was a student here from 2013-2018 & then came back in the fall of 2023.
Hobby or pastime:  I love playing with my dog & taking her on long walks whenever I go back home (She lives for those moments as doggy).
One thing you love about SMSU: Just how small the town is and the closeness of places. I don’t have to drive very far to get anywhere.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 5, but I didn’t want to go into medicine (I’m not a math person), which led me into the world of higher education, & that is where I probably end up being a doctor in.  

Recruitment Territory: Twin Cities, Southeast MN, Wisconsin, and Illinois 

Other duties in the office: DEI Specialist 

Favorite Movie or TV show: Show me a good Comedy or Action movie or TV show and it might become my favorite! 

Favorite musician or type of music: Rap and R&B 

Favorite food: I don’t have a favorite; I just enjoy good food! Trying foods from different cultures excites me! 

What you LOVE about working in the office: I love how we can all work together to positively impact students' post-secondary search from beginning to end. 

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I came to SMSU in 2019 and Majored in Business Management while on the Football and Wrestling teams. I finished up my bachelor’s in 2023 and went directly into Grad school where I am currently working towards a Master of Business Administration. While earning my graduate degree I had a graduate assistantship position working with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion & Mustang Pathway Program. 

Hobby or pastime: During my pastime I enjoy Cooking, Biking, working out, and spending time with family and friends. 

One thing you love about SMSU: I love the close relationships that can be formed across campus. 

Recruitment Territory: South Central & Eastern US, Homeschool

Other duties in the office: wheelchair basketball coach 

Favorite Movie or TV show: the office 

Favorite musician or type of music:  Christian 

Favorite food: brisket 

What you LOVE about working in the office: the people

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU):  since 2014

Hobby or pastime: wood working  

One thing you love about SMSU: the small connected campus  

Favorite Movie or TV show: The Challenge

Favorite musician or type of music: I listen to everything. Just depends on the day and what I am doing.

Favorite food: Steaks, Seafood, Sushi, and Cheesecake

What you LOVE about working in the office: Everyone has such different personalities but we all have so much fun working while helping peashooter. 

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I have worked at SMSU starting August of 2022. 

Hobby or pastime: I enjoy running and strength training when I am free. what I spend most of my time doing is taking my 3 small children on adventures/ watching their activities. I enjoy hunting and motorsports as well.

One thing you love about SMSU: Everyone is welcoming and wants to help. People are friendly and not afraid to go out of their way to make this campus a safe and comfortable environment. 

Favorite Movie or TV show: My favorite movies are the Harry Potter series, and my favorite TV series would have to be either Bridgerton or Scandal!

Favorite musician or type of music: My favorite type of music is country and my favorite country singers are either Zac Bryan, Morgan Wallen, or Bailey Zimmerman. 

Favorite food: Anything pasta!

What you LOVE about working in the office: I love coming into the office and talking with everyone and creating lasting relationships with them all!

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU): I started attending SMSU in 2020, and just graduated with my Bachelor's of Science.

Hobby or pastime: I love reading, hiking, and traveling to new places!

One thing you love about SMSU: I love the atmosphere here and how welcoming everyone at SMSU is.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: I have been to 25 states and 3 countries!

Duties in the office: Making tea and writing very long emails. Also, working with talented folks in Admission, Financial Aid, Center for International Education, Graduate Studies, Student Activities, and Student Government.
Favorite Movie or TV show: The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, The Office
Favorite musician or type of music: 80’s Hair Bands/Metal and 90’s Grunge
Favorite food: pizza/cheese cake/almond m&m’s
What you LOVE about working in the office: Hands down, it’s the great talks with future and current SMSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Your SMSU history (how long you’ve worked here or gone to SMSU):  I started at SMSU in July of 2022.
Hobby or pastime: Recently, I’m into walking SMSU’s nature preserve and interconnected buildings, playing video games, and building elaborate blanket forts for my rowdy cat siblings Dr. CleoCatra Gray Needles and Mr. Johnny Snow Claws.
One thing you love about SMSU Definitely the people. “Minnesota Nice” is a real thing. Especially on a small campus like SMSU.

Any other interesting facts about yourself: Probably not.