By ALEXANDER
WHEELER
Saint Rose Alum and
Area Coordinator
On any typical weekday you can find Mathew Vincent, Area Coordinator at The College of Saint Rose and student in the Higher Education Leadership and Administration Program, in the Camelot Room between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m..
“I like to schedule my lunch for this time because I usually end up speaking with and interacting with students during this time,” said Vincent.
I find that this is a very subtle and important aspect to understanding Vincent’s omnipotent role here at the College. Whether he is balancing a strenuous workload at different times of the year through Resident Assistant Training, Relay for Life planning, or Resident Assistant selection, Vincent always finds time for the students he is here to support.
It was a very hot April morning when I sat down at my desk in Brubacher Hall to telephone Vincent to gain a better understanding of his Saint Rose journey for his long overdue senior profile. Vincent, caught off-guard by this request for an interview, took us both on a journey filled with fond memories and self-growth. Believe it or not, Vincent did not always want to work in higher education. Vincent always wanted to be an Elementary School teacher.
Q: Why Saint Rose?
Vincent: I actually chose Saint Rose because my best friend, Christopher Surprenant (previous Managing Editor for The Chronicle) chose to go here. I went to Mohawk Valley Community College for my first year of college due to financial reasons and because it was close to home (Vincent hails from Utica, NY which he is immensely proud of). I knew I needed someone as a basis of support once I go to college and Chris was that. Once I started at Saint Rose I knew that it was the greatest decision of my life.
Q: What was your undergraduate major?
Vincent: I graduated with a BA in Childhood Education 1-6 and I am a certified teacher in New York for those ages. After I graduated in December 2014 I moved back to Utica, NY to work as a substitute teacher. I tried to get my foot in as many doors as possible at the time.
Q: What was your graduate program?
Vincent: The Higher Education Leadership and Administration program.
Q: Why the shift away from Childhood Education?
Vincent: It was in June of 2015 when I received a call from Jennifer Richardson the Director of Residence Life at Saint Rose when she asked me if I was interested in applying for an open Area Coordinator position. At first, I laughed it off. This was not something that I wanted to do. After twenty-four hours, however, and speaking with my parents and my wolf-pack (Vincent’s intimate group of best friends, including his best friend, Chris) I decided to apply for it. It made sense – it paid for my Master’s degree, offered free housing, and kept me at the school that I loved so much. I intended for this to be temporary, however. Through the position I found a passion for working with students and student leaders in particular. However, I did start my graduate journey in the Curriculum and Instruction program and took two courses (six credits). I didn’t feel completely fulfilled through my coursework and coupled with the interactions I had with my students I realized that I really wanted to work with college students. One of my Resident Assistants, who had yet to graduate with his bachelor’s degree, already knew this was the field he wanted to go into and his passion helped me to see that this was where I wanted to be, too.
Q: What was your favorite class in the HLA program?
Vincent: The pro-seminar (HLA 501) taught by Wendy Neifeld-Wheeler. Wendy was a great professor and the discussion of different contemporary issues facing higher education made for some robust discussion in class. I also was able to take the class with two of my best friends so it made it something I looked forward to every week.
Q: What were your favorite activities and memories as a student?
Vincent: My interactions with students and my resident assistants will always be a highlight; watching student growth. I enjoyed my involvement with Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) as a student, Relay Chair, and Club Advisor. Whether it was being a shoulder to cry on or an open ear for students I will always look back on my one-on-one experiences with them.
Q: What are your current plans for the future?
Vincent: I am currently searching for a job – one that is the best fit for me. I’m hoping to stay in either Residence Life or Student Life. If I could stay at Saint Rose for the rest of my career, I would love to do that, too. It has been apparent to Vincent, at least from a younger age, that assisting students was what he always wanted to do with his life. I guess he was just unsure what age those students would be.
“[Matt] has a huge heart. He is truly devoted and dedicated to students to ensure that they have the best experience at college.”said Jennifer Richardson, Vincent’s current supervisor.
As Vincent undergoes his current job search I know that if he finds a new home at a different college that they will be more than lucky to get him. On the other hand, if Saint Rose has the chance to retain him, I think we’ll continue to be all the better for it.
“Matt is one of the most dedicated people I know. He will go above and beyond every chance he gets, regardless of what else is going on. I’m so happy to see how far he’s come in the last few years, he’s going to do great things,” said Brian Graham, a friend of Vincent’s and a fellow Area Coordinator.
Before I end this highly awaited senior profile I would like to leave you all with two things: a personal story and a quote: I once took Vincent on a run to Dunkin’ Donuts to buy him a breakfast sandwich and a coffee just because he was my friend and I wanted to show him my appreciation of that friendship. I, myself, had already made coffee at home and ate breakfast after a morning workout. Vincent, having noticed my travel mug of coffee in my Jeep, began to wonder why we were going to Dunkin’ to get coffee if I had already made mine, but he didn’t ask any questions. When we got to Dunkin’ I bought him his breakfast and didn’t get anything for myself and he proceeded to argue with me that this wasn’t the proper way to get breakfast with him.
Vincent himself is very much a giver – so much in fact, that I believe it isn’t in his DNA to be able to accept appreciation through gifts. Vincent is a doer and in the words of one of his mentors – words that I will leave you with – “Dream, try. Do good,” and Vincent dreams, he tries, and he definitely does good.
