MEET MISSY! She graduated in May 2019 with a Ph.D. in Higher Education. She currently works as a Senior Administrative Coordinator in the UNT Career Connect office.
We asked Missy some questions, advice for current students, and how UNT helped her to succeed and SOAR BEYOND!
When you started at UNT, what were your plans after graduation? How have these plans changed? When I started my doctoral program in the UNT Counseling and Higher Education department, I was working full-time as an Administrative Coordinator in an academic unit at UNT. My goal for completing my EdD in higher education was to gain a deeper understanding of post-secondary education that could be applied to the work I was already doing. What I did not expect was that I would be offered the opportunity to work as a graduate research assistant for the UNT Career Center and the North Texas Community College Consortium during my time as a doctoral student. These positions, along with my course work and my research interests in LGBTQIA college student experiences opened my eyes to areas of higher education that I had not been a part of before.
What advice do you have for prospective or current students as they decide what they want their next steps to be? Ask yourself what you are passionate about and look for the best ways to grow that passion. Develop networks while at UNT that include fellow students, faculty members, and staff. Participate in activities that interest you and provide new experiences that will enhance your career goals (such as student organizations, academic research, volunteer work, student employment). Early in your educational experience, learn about the numerous campus resources that are available at UNT that can assist you as you progress through your educational journey and provide guidance as you consider your next steps beyond college.
How did your program at UNT help you to feel prepared for this role? The higher education program provided me with a wealth of information about post-secondary education and helped me to better understand the complex nature of higher education that has been beneficial in my current position.
How did you find your current role? Word of mouth. I was fortunate to already know others working in the Career Connect office who were great personal references.
What was the toughest interview question they asked you? Honestly, I do not recall having tough questions at the interview. Preparation before the interview by anticipating what would be asked was very helpful.
How did the Career Center help you? As already mentioned, I had the opportunity to work as a graduate research assistant in the Career Center. This was a wonderful learning experience for me. For instance, I organized the Fall 2014 Etiquette Dinner event and Spring 2015 Take Flight Job Shadowing program. Most memorable to me; though, was assisting with the first LGBTQIA Career & Resource Fair which was a great success.
Would you like to be featured in our Soaring Beyond Success Series? Email Jeanette Hickl. We’d love to share your story!
