Melissa Schultz, Hetzel Hall Director   Undergraduate degree:  B.S. in Apparel and Textile Design, Michigan State University   Graduate degree: M. Ed. in Higher Education Administration, University of Arkansas

Any advice for incoming 1st year students?

1. Find a balance. Academics, social life, and personal time are all important. So make time for each!
2. Learn about the different services offered on campus and take advantage while you are here. This is the URL for the list (http://www.unh.edu/Campus/others/index.html )!
3. Network. Talk to the people living in your hall, schedule meetings with professors and administrators, and introduce yourself to university staff. These are the people in your community for the next four years and you will enrich your college experience beyond your expectations, by becoming a part of it.
4. Take a summer or semester to study or volunteer abroad.
5. I'm full of advice, so feel free to stop by the Hetzel office if you're looking for more!

Why did you become a Hall Director?

I spent my first two years, after undergrad, working in a corporate environment. As time passed, I realized the job wasn't a good fit. I spent some time reflecting on my past work experiences and always found myself thinking about the amazing experience I had working as a Resident Assistant. The RA job taught me a great deal about myself and provided me with multiple life skills. With a little courage and support from family and friends, I changed my career path and decided to go back to college for a master's degree. During my graduate studies, I had an assistantship as a Graduate Resident Hall Director. My experience was positive so, I decided to continue working in residence life after graduation. As a Hall Director, I have the opportunity to create and share experiences that will help students navigate the twists and turns of college or life in general...and to have fun!   
 The simple fact that I can wake up everyday with a passion and desire to do what I do is priceless.

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

During the search process I researched many schools trying to gauge a good fit. When I checked out the UNH Residence Life home page it exuded a familiar resonance. One I remember from living in the residence halls and inspired me to work as a hall director. Once I met people from the Residence Life department, I knew UNH would be a great place to work. One of the elements I value most about working in the student affairs field is interacting with students, and UNH is very intentional about providing quality attention to each student. Additionally, I am looking forward to working at a smaller university with a more personal environment. And after four years of being "land-locked" I am very excited to be near the crashing waves of the ocean!

 

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

I believe my experiences have shaped who I am today and I am happy to share them with people to inspire or for mere conversation! Aside from residence life, I have spent time as a Career Specialist, Apparel Designer, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and the Earthwatch Institute. I participated in the Invisible Children movement last year and hope to continue doing so. I completed the Peace Corp application process and received acceptance, so if you're interested I can give a little insight (I didn't go, but it is quiet the process). Travel is definitely a passion. I have trained and completed half marathons and still enjoy running (especially trails). Hobbies on the horizon- scuba diving, my certification card is burning a hole in my pocket and I hope to figure out my first dive trip- soon, kayaking, photography, and I am looking forward to reuniting with my artistic side. When I'm not feeling so active, I love to hang out with people, go to the movies, browse the book store/library, and cook! One last thing, does anyone play the game Munchkin??