By AMY THOMAS
Contributing Writer
Students usually come to the Office of Academic Advising asking for help with their schedule, requirements, advice, and most of all, how they can improve.
Kelly Meyer, the director of academic advising, is one of the individuals who help students with their general concerns. He tries to guide students in the right direction when they come into his office with questions.
Meyer considers his role for students that of a mentor with experience. He shares his experiences about how the decision of changing his major affects how he works today; what he does outside of his work office, how highly he thinks about The College of Saint Rose, and how he maintains his love for his job.
“Our office is very fortunate to have Kelly as a director,” said Jennifer Hankin, associate director of academic advising. “I have learned a lot from him over the years and I know that students have as well. He always has their best interest at heart and he has such an inviting personality. Students, faculty, and staff are automatically drawn to him.”
Meyer was born on July 17, 1967 in Oregon in a little town in Coos Bay where he was educated from elementary, middle school, and high school. He graduated from Linfield College in another area of Oregon called McMinnville. He majored first in Philosophy, and then switched to German, which led him to study abroad. This was the stepping stone to his future career that allowed him to positively help students today. Meyer believed that the switch in major was for the better.
“I do not regret making the decision of changing my major from philosophy to German because it helped me in the long run when students come into my office asking big questions like, what they should do with their life,” said Meyer.
Meyer does not regret changing his major and said that philosophy taught him how to be prepared for big questions when students ask him about certain life choices they should make.
However, the most common challenge he may face with students is that he can’t exactly tell them what they should entirely do with their life. Students have difficulties with picking a specific major, but he understands what they are going through because he has been through that same situation throughout college. He teaches students how to maintain positive energy in efforts to make them successful.
When Meyer talks about the strengths of the college when he talks about how great of a school it is. He says working gives him so much joy and his co-workers are the reasons for that as well. When walking into the office they are all very inviting and accommodating. He feels that he can talk to his co-workers about anything that concerns him.
Meyer is well-known throughout the school. He often receives high praise from the ones who works alongside him.
“Kelly would go out of his way to help anyone, and whenever I have a question she can come to him and talk about it,” said Maggie Wright, an academic advisor in the office.
Meyer said he loves to communicate with his students and give them the best advice that he can. He will continue to help as many students as he can, and is very
thankful to have a job filled with wonderful students and amazing faculty members.
“I will always be grateful to help all my students to the best of my ability,’’ said Meyer.
