How long does it take the graduation office to plan graduation ceremonies?

We would love to have commencement that would be the same two years in a row, but it never has been. We’re such a dynamic campus. There are so many things that change on a regular basis. We typically work on commencement year round. We have bits and pieces of it that we work on, and things get really hectic and busy with commencement starting in February and March and on through the end of May.

What’s the best part of your job?

Two things really. I love commencement. There is nothing more exciting to me than being there that evening and seeing our happy graduates who have worked hard on their academic careers ... To me, that’s really the best part of my job. To see those students that have met their goals. That’s just phenomenal. The other part of that would be for that student who is having challenges and who has met roadblocks. If we have the opportunity to meet with them one-on-one, and if we can change whatever it is that they thought was insurmountable that was going to make the difference between them graduating and not graduating. If we can make a difference, to me, that’s the other best part of my job.

What’s the worst part of your job?

It’s hard to give a student all the information that they need up front. Sometimes they have to go through a bad semester and do those things that we suggest they don’t do and experience it before they realize how important those little tips and strategies we suggest in the graduation planner [really are]. It’s hard to watch someone make those mistakes, but sometimes they have to make them on their own before they really realize that we know what we’re talking about.

Everybody’s journey and path is so different. It’s all we can do really is offer tips and strategies and suggestions and help them map out their way. But each student has to do it on their own ultimately. So that’s the hard thing. It’s just seeing those students you know are capable. You know [they] can do it [no matter what] happens.

What’s your best piece of advice for students?

I would say, and this is for everyone that steps on campus, graduation is really not a passive sort of thing. Your academic career is not a passive sort of thing. It doesn’t happen to you. You really have to make the most of it, and you really have to plan for it and determine the path that you want to take. I think that sometimes students think it’s just going to evolve or happen for them and really they have so much opportunity to map that out for themselves. And those students who take the time to think about it and make a plan really get so much more out of their educational experience.

What do people not know about the graduation office?

I think first and foremost, there are still people out there that don’t know the graduation office is here. It is relatively new. We started in January of 2005. And to be a part of the Wagner Academic Center is a wonderful opportunity for us. We love to be here. I think more than anything that’s sort of a hidden treasure. People don’t realize that there is an office here on campus that can work with or serve as a liaison or a bridge to other offices with other resources on campus. I think sometimes students think they are just going to have to throw in the towel when there is somebody here on campus that’s really more than willing to help as best we can. You know we can’t make miracles happen, but we really do want to make it where students can meet their goals as best as possible.

Any last words?

We really hope that students will take advantage of the complete graduation experience and participate in both commencement and their convocations. It’s really a once in a lifetime opportunity to go through graduation at whatever stage their in, whether it be as a undergraduate student or a graduate student. You have so few opportunities in life to celebrate those sort of milestones. So we hope that students will really make the most of it and celebrate it.