Dave DeCecco
Home towns: Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, MO.
Undergraduate Institution: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Internship: Assistant Complex Director, Department of Student Housing
Current Employment: Consultant at Pennington & Company
What I learned through my internships?
“Through my internship with the Department of Student Housing, I learned many valuable skills. Leadership and organizational skills along with the ability to work with a diverse population can all be attributed to my time as an Assistant Complex Director. The professional staff is supportive and engaged me in professional and personal development that will continue through my professional career. My Student Success internship did just that…set me up for “success” after graduate school. Thank you KU!”
What I liked most about my Masters program?
“The Master’s program enabled me to explore the opportunities that interested me. From my Postsecondary Finance class to my for-credit internship with KU Endowment, I developed a program that met my needs and interests. I gained the skills and knowledge through class discussions and group projects to be successful post-graduation. A great education led me to great opportunities!”
Jamie Ehlinger
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate: Trinity University (San Antonio, TX)
Internship: Student Involvement & Leadership Center (Fraternity & Sorority Life)
Current employment: Program Coordinator, Fraternity and Sorority Life at University of California-Berkely.
What I liked most about my internship?
“What I liked most about my internships was… being immersed into the university setting. The experience allows you to become a part of a large staff and family at the University of Kansas.”
What I liked most about the master's program?
“Learning about the foundations of higher education and student development theory.”
Rishad Gandhi
Home town: Calcutta, India
Undergraduate institution: Texas Christian University
Internship: Multicultural Resource Center and the University Career Center
What I learned through my internships?
"Having had the opportunity to work in two very different assistantships, I have learned what my strengths and weaknesses are in this field and what my niche is in Higher Education Administration."
What I liked most about my Masters program?
"The wonderful teachers in the program and the support provided by the Student Affairs professionals at KU."
Stefani Gerson
Home Town: Overland Park
Undergraduate Institution: KU
Internship: Student Involvement & Leadership Center (Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center)
Current Employment: Coordinator of Student Programs, KU Alumni Association
What I liked most about my internship: I enjoyed my internship so much! Being able to work with seasoned professionals, other graduate students, and undergraduate students on a daily basis enhanced my classroom experience and personal life more than I can say. The fact that my mentors and supervisors never treated me as a student, but rather a colleague enabled me to quickly become the higher education administrator that I hoped to become. I was able to plan campus-wide programs, advise several student organizations, travel to conventions, create publications, and much much more! I could never put in a paragraph all that I walked away with from my internship…there aren't enough words.
What I liked most about my Masters program: When I started in the Master's program I wasn't 100% positive what I was getting into. I knew that I wanted to get a graduate degree and knew that I needed more education and experience before entering the "real world." Two years later, I walked away with life-long friends, an expansive knowledge set of how a college runs, how students develop, and how to put a personal stamp on a university. I never would have imagined all that I would gain from this graduate program. I feel so lucky to have stumbled into something that would shape my future forever!
Frances Lyons (no picture available)
Hometown: St. John, Kansas
Undergraduate institution: Kansas State University
Internships: Graduate Assistant Academic Advisor, School of Business Graduate Assistant Internship Advisor, University Career Center
Current position: Academic Advisor, University Advising Center, University of Kansas
What I liked most about my internship?
"I learned something new every day. Both of my internships allowed me to work with students, faculty, and staff with diverse experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds, ensuring that each day provided an opportunity to apply my knowledge within a different context."
What I liked most about the master's program?
"We were continually challenged to think about how we could adapt and incorporate the classroom material to our current and future roles within higher ed."
Jessica Ward
Home Town: Perry, GA
Undergraduate Institutions: Georgia College and State University
Internship: Assistant Complex Director, Department of Student Housing
Current Employment: Resident Director, Eastern Illinois University
What I learned through my internships?
I grew a lot throughout the two years I was in my internship, but I am most proud of the confidence I gained throughout my experience. When I began my internship I thought that I would never be able to effectively maintain a residence hall the size of KU’s. However, the leadership in the Department of Student Housing challenged and supported me to grow into the best professional I could be. Now I am in charge of a large residence hall and am able to give the same experience that I had at KU to the graduate students I directly supervise. It is really good experience to be able to run a residence hall as a graduate student, which greatly prepared me for this position.
What I liked most about my Masters program? I loved that there were some many different personalities and geographic locations represented within my cohort. It is very interesting to hear the differing views of higher education come out in the discussions. This was also represented in our professors. I also liked that your cohort and faculty members become your family. KU is a large institution, but I never felt that I was a small piece of the large puzzle. The professors are there to help you professionally, academically, and personally, which makes you feel at home from the first day of class.
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