Photo by Jessica Maloney,
UNH Human Resources

How does one cope with the myriad of details involved in coordinating programs and events for the university? For Susan Entz, Director of Public Programs and Events, a "confidence in the department's ability to orchestrate successful events" helps, as does years of experience ensuring well coordinated programs under constantly changing conditions. As a former tour coordinator, Susan's experiences prior to her arrival at the University of New Hampshire have well-prepared her for even the most chaotic of programming efforts.

At twenty-three years old, Susan took on a position that involved accompanying and making international travel arrangements for an ethnically diverse crew of 110 touring members of Disney on Ice. This involved not only the details of booking flights and ensuring appropriate accommodations, but also securing visas and following up on misrouted luggage. As a recent graduate and newlywed, this position was Susan's initiation into the working world. Her youthful enthusiasm gave her the courage to take on tasks for which she hadn't fully comprehended the difficulty. For instance, Susan states "at the time, I had thought a visa was just a credit card!"

Despite the difficulty of ensuring the accuracy of travel details while constantly en route, Susan stayed with the touring company for six years. She and her husband, who eventually took a position in the props department for the company, had the opportunity to travel through, amongst other locations, Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia. During this time, her husband perfected what Susan calls "ninja tourism." Making the best of the interims between shows, they would arm themselves with maps and trek through remote locations to better discover the lesser-known areas of the tour stops. As Susan recalls, "On our way to Bali, we trekked across much of the island of Java, climbing through jungles and staying with tribes."

In her current position, Susan is responsible for "showcasing the most impressive aspects of the university by creating first-hand experiences for important university constituents." This takes such varied forms as planning for Legislators' Hockey Night and annual Trustees' visits to campus. It also includes planning the commencement ceremony (for which efforts begin in January) that is generally attended by 16,000-20,000 people. Public Programs and Events is also responsible for the much-beloved family Holiday Party at the Whittemore Center, which attracts around 3,000 attendees annually. In addition to the aforementioned programs, Susan and her staff are also responsible for coordinating receptions that are held in President Hart's home.

Though her current position at UNH may be slightly more routine than what she had been accustomed to, constant travel has given Susan an appreciation for a more settled life. The permanence of a bureau and closet has become an appealing alternative to living out of a suitcase. Susan now finds her chaos in forms that many of us can identify with - including parenting two daughters (a three year-old and an eight month-old) and home renovation projects.

Her penchant for change, however, is not left unfulfilled. She is excited to be a part of a department that is currently evolving in an effort to become a centralized communication point for the university. Public Programs and Events, the News Bureau, and Publications are all in the process of planning to roll-out initiatives to become more customer-service oriented, and to ensure the consistency of messages to further enhance the regional and national reputation of the university.

When asked what she enjoys most about working at the university, Susan's response was, "The students are the best part of the university. They're incredibly talented, enthusiastic and optimistic. We work with many students - work-studies as well as volunteers. They're all very helpful. On several occasions we've asked the sororities and fraternities for help on events. They've always been very willing to assist us." Certainly, as someone who had taken on daunting responsibilities at that age with great success, Susan's confidence in the abilities of students is likely a powerful force in helping them to achieve their potential. Of her own potential, Susan states, "I feel that my true potential is yet unrealized and this environment provides numerous opportunities to improve myself as an employee, and as a person."