Stephanie Reed, Hetzel Hall Director   Undergraduate degree:  B.A. in Communications from Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, Ohio)   Graduate degree: M.S. in College Student Personnel from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

Any advice for incoming 1st year students?

Take Time to Learn About YOU:  No matter if you live close to UNH or are from a different country, your time here will provide you with many opportunities to learn about yourself (and others)! Much of your life so far may have been planned for you, but now you are learning how to plan your own life.  This can be scary (which is why I am hereJ) but trust me, if you dedicate as much time to learning about yourself as you do to your area of study you will arrive at graduation a more complete person.

Don’t Worry About Your Major:  That’s right…I said it…Now please don’t misunderstand me, you do need to focus (and perhaps sometimes worry) about your studies.  However, please do not feel obligated to have a set major when you arrive at UNH.  Also, if you are really interested in majoring in Women’s Studies…do it!  The most important thing is that you feel motivated by and enjoy your major courses…the job and future success will come later.  I am living proof that your undergraduate major does not necessarily relate to your future profession.  I am happy to share the story…all you have to do is ask!

Get Involved:  Now I understand that if you have looked at other hall directors’ profiles we have all probably said this in one way or another.  That’s because it’s really good advice!  This does not mean that you need to get involved in 20+ organizations/activities. In fact, I would say that is probably a bad idea.  Instead, find one or two student groups and dedicate yourselves to them.  If you don’t feel a connection to your first group, move on to another until your find your fit.  This may take some time but don’t be discouraged, you will find your place.

Why did you become a Hall Director?

During my senior year of college I realized that I could actually work on a college campus without being a professor, hence my journey to Residence Life.  To get some more experience, I worked at Ursuline College (near Cleveland, Ohio) before I started my Master’s program.  At Miami, I was a graduate assistant in Residence Life and fell in love with working so closely with students.  I really enjoy working and living with students (through the good times and bad)!

Why did you choose UNH ? What attracted you to the area or the school?

I have lived in Ohio my WHOLE LIFE!  So I decided that now was the time to live in a different part of the country and New England was my first choice.  A friend had told me about her love of UNH and I decided to look into the Hall Director position.  I really enjoyed learning about the campus community and thought UNH could be a great fit for my personal and professional goals.  After visiting the campus and meeting some students, I knew that I had found the right place.  I was impressed by the community on UNH’s campus and the purposeful and creative initiatives introduced by the Residential Life office.  I am also excited to have the ocean in my front yard and a mountain in my back yard.

 

Any previous experiences, hobbies, etc, that you would want 1st year students to know about you?

My experiences have certainly made me who I am, so I am happy to share some of them with you.  During my undergrad, I had the opportunity to travel around the U.S. for three months studying religion and sociology, which truly was a life changing experience.  After graduation I worked at Barnes and Noble for a year and a half in the children’s department which taught me that I loved children’s books but disliked retail!  My mother is originally from London, England so I have also been able to visit my family in London a few times. 

As far as hobbies go, I love to read many random things (ex: chic lit, memoirs, biographies, cultural studies).  I am a fan of most reality television (I’ll admit to even the really bad ones like Rock of Love and Celebrity Rehab) but often question how “real” the reality is. I would really like to continue to work on my pottery which is a fairly new hobby of mine (which means that all my bowls are “wobbly”).  I am excited to work on my hobby list (grad school occupied most of my last two years) so if you have any ideas, let me know!

Thoughts you may be having starting your own 1st year here at UNH?

YAY!  I am excited to get to UNH and get started!  I am so looking forward to meeting all of you and help you make the most of your college experience.  I am ready for some great day trips in New England and traveling more as well as creating a new “home.”  Please remember that I am here to help, so do not hesitate to visit!