March 3, 2009 issue
I am currently the director of the McNair Scholars Program, which is
part of the Honors College. EMU has a five-year federal funding commitment
for this program, and I provide leadership and oversight. The focus of
the program is to assist students to graduate, and then aid them in successfully
applying for and completing graduate school.
I like working in the Honors College because it is like a private school
experience, but in a large public university setting. It's a homey atmosphere
where the coffee is always on, cookies are often available and students
can use computers to print their papers when necessary. We make the Honors
College available to students in a way larger departments might not be
able to.
As a faculty member in the School of Social Work for the last 13 years,
I sponsor students for the Undergraduate Symposium. It is a thrill to
help them develop their first professional presentation. I enjoy seeing
many of their stories turn out happily ever after. It is very gratifying.
My husband and I are endowing a scholarship here. I think it is wonderful
to be able to give funds where funds are needed. It can make an immeasurable
difference to our students.
Being from a working-class background, I identify with many of the students
at EMU. I like the striving spirit of the students and
the stories of the students, to me, are heroic. It is wonderful
to be able to help them achieve beyond their expectations.
I want to give back a measure of what I was fortunate to
receive myself. — Contributed by Heather Hamilton
