Lauren Adams

Hometown: North Huntingdon, PA

Undergraduate Institution: The University of Illinois at Chicago

Assistantship: UGA-Graduate Resident for Russell Hall

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Currently my areas of interest include Housing and Orientation because that’s what I was involved in as an undergraduate. However, I’m open to new experiences in the field of student affairs and realize that as I continue my journey with the CSAA program my professional interests may evolve.

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because I absolutely fell in love with everything it had to offer! I loved the structure of the CSAA curriculum and the devotion of the CSAA faculty to its students. In addition, I felt a sense of belonging because of the small cohort model and could truly see myself as a Bulldog. Lastly, I really wanted an experience that was different from my urban undergraduate institution, so being in a college town with football was a no brainer!

Words to live by: You should be thriving. Not surviving.

Hometown: Cary, NC

Undergraduate Institution: UNC Chapel Hill

Assistantship: Gainesville State College-Leadership Initiatives

Areas of Interest in Student Affairs: First-year Experience, Student Leadership, Administration

Why I chose UGA: I had never visited the state of Georgia or UGA before I came for interview weekend, and almost instantly I knew the CSAA program was where I needed to be.  The faculty were incredible not only because of their influence in the field, but also their obvious passion for their roles as our educators and helping us succeed in the program and after.  Also, the members of each cohort seemed as if they considered each other family.  They showed so much obvious pride in the program and had only great things to say about their experience learning and working at UGA.  Now that I am a part of CSAA I am glad to say that each day I spend here reaffirms my decision that this was the greatest place I could be to start a career in Student Affairs.

Words to live by: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

- Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Hometown:Fredericksburg, Virginia

Undergraduate Institution:Virginia Tech

Assistantship: UGA – University Housing

Areas of Interest in Student Affairs: University Administration, Student Conduct, Housing, First-Year Experience, Student Leadership, among many other things!

Why I Chose UGA: I chose UGA for one very simple reason: the people. During my interview experience, I was amazed at how passionate, friendly and professional all of the faculty, staff and students were. I had heard nothing but the best about UGA and the CSAA program during my initial Grad School search, and as soon as I left campus after my interview weekend, I knew this was where I wanted to be!

Words to Live By: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Matthew Galewski

Hometown: Whitman, MA

Undergraduate Institution: The George Washington University

Assistantship: Graduate Assistant for University Union – Programming Board

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Student Activities, Student Conduct, Assessment, Diversity and Inclusion

Why I chose UGA: CSAA’s excellent faculty, the cohort model, and the program’s focus on counseling, along with the sense of community at UGA!

Words to live by: ”We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”  -Randy Pausch

Hometown: Dacula, GA

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology

Assistantship: Georgia Tech-Women’s Resource Center

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Women’s Support and Programs, Volunteer Programs, Student Involvement, First-Year Experience

Why I chose UGA:  I loved the idea of having a small cohort, was impressed by the rigor and reputation of the UGA CSAA program, and excited about having an assistantship in an area that I am passionate about.

Words to live by: “I am a part of all that I have met.” ― Alfred Tennyson

Hometown: Novi, MI

Undergraduate Institution: Hope College

Assistantship: UGA-Center for Leadership and Service – Volunteer UGA

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Leadership Development, Community Engagement, and Diversity Education

Why I chose UGA: I was looking for an adventure in grad school that would take me to a different part of the country, and when I came across a top 5 school in the south with welcoming and engaging faculty, a community oriented cohort-based program, a top notch assistantship in a field of interest, and a stellar football team, I couldn’t turn it down!

Words to live by: ”Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Gil Bailie

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Undergraduate Institution: Florida State University

Assistantship: UGA-Center for Leadership and Service

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Working with a non-traditional student population, education through service, community engagement

Why I chose UGA: The College Student Affairs Administration program at UGA had a huge draw with so much to offer, from the valuable experience of the faculty to the diverse work background that the cohort environment provides.  The community feel and inclusion of UGA offers a warm and welcoming environment.  The city of Athens has such a huge draw, with an amazing music, artistic, and cultural sense of place.

Words to live by:“Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come… The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” -Audrey Hepburn

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things” -Henry Miller

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy” – Anne Frank

Hometown:Plantation, FL

Undergrad Institution: Florida Atlantic University’s Honors College

Assistantship: UGA-Alumni Association for Regional Programs

Areas of Interest in Student Affairs: Leadership Development, Multicultural Affairs, Judicial Affairs,  Student Government, Non-Traditional Student Experience, Residence Life

Why I Chose UGA: It’s cliché but right when I stepped on campus for interview weekend, I felt at home. The program’s faculty are all really accomplished in the field and this program’s reputation really proceeds itself. The other huge benefit is that I went to a small-liberal arts college for my undergraduate experience and UGA gives me a completely different campus environment to be in. I made the right choice and have not looked back since!

Words to Live By: “Anger and frustration are the result of you not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life. Being fake about anything creates a block inside of you. Life can’t work for you if you don’t show up as you.” – Jason Mraz

“You can turn off the sun, but I’m still gonna shine.” – Jason Mraz

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Southern University

Assistantship: UGA-University Housing

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Leadership and Student Development, Civic Engagement, Living Learning Communities and Judicial Affairs

Why I chose UGA: When I began to look at graduate school programs it was anything but easy to choose. I was looking for a program that contained rigorous coursework, a close cohort model and a comprehensive assistantship. I basically wanted to pick a school that would best prepare me for my future endeavors. When I came to the campus interviews it became evident that not only was this program right for me, but that I was right for this program too.

Words to live by: Just remember to reach down and help someone up on your climb up the ladder. -Elisa Lopez

Hometown: Schaumburg, Il

Undergraduate Institution: Millikin University

Assistantship: UGA Student Activities – Pandora Yearbook

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Greek Life, Leadership Development, Orientation, First-year experience, Service Learning, Housing

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the positive experiences and recommendations of CSAA alumni, as well as the dedicated and committed faculty and current students. This is truly a family atmosphere and I don’t think there is a better way to start graduate work in this field.

Words to live by:But do not hurry the journey at all.

Better if it lasts for years,

So you are old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you have gained on the way…

Hometown: Summerfield, North Carolina

Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina State University

Assistantship: UGA Housing – Academic Initiatives

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: First Year Experience, Housing, Orientation…my interests may change as I gain more experience

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA and the CSAA program for many reasons.  I felt very welcomed during my interview weekend and I could see myself becoming a part of the UGA Family.  In addition, I was impressed by the reputation of the program, the faculty’s passion for their work, and the cohort model that allows me to work side by side with my colleagues. 

Words to live by: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”  – Dr. Seuss

Hometown: Baltimore, MD     

Undergraduate Institution: Lehigh University

Assistantship: Center for Leadership and Service , Arch Society and Leadership UGA

Areas of interest in Student Affairs:  Student Leadership and Development, New Student Orientation, Multicultural Students’ Experiences

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the strong focus on the cohort model and the prestige of the program. When I visited during interview weekend, everything felt right! 

Words to live by: ”The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” – Anna Quindlen

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Undergraduate Institution: Florida State University

Assistantship: UGA-University Housing-Brumby Hall

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Housing & Conduct

Why I chose UGA: I have been visiting family members in Georgia since I was young. I associate Georgia with my fondest childhood memories. I remember saying that I would one day attend the University of Georgia, for no particular reason other than loving the state of Georgia and the memories that were created here.

Words to live by: ”Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Undergraduate Institution: Emory University

Assistantship: UGA-Alumni Association, Student Programming

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Student Programming, Orientation and Transition Programs, First Year Experience, Student Leadership and Development, Housing

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because it has a highly recognized student affairs program that ensures its students are supported by amazing faculty and a close-knit cohort.  I am confident that UGA will provide unique learning opportunities that will allow me to develop personally, professionally, and academically.

Words to live by: The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they make the best of everything.

Hometown: Cranston, Rhode Island

Undergraduate Institution: University of Miami

Assistantship: UGA-University Housing

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Housing, Service and Leadership, First-Year Experience

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because I had a great experience during interview weekend and fell in love with the CSAA program. The small cohort model and the passion the faculty and students all displayed for the program really stood out to me. After receiving a phenomenal assistantship offer in housing, my decision was set, and UGA was clearly the best choice for me.

Words to live by: ”You cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.” -Anonymous

Hometown: High Point, NC

Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina State University

Assistantship: UGA–University Housing

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Student Organizations, Student Government, Greek Life, Leadership and Service

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the excellent faculty, the size of the cohort and the assistantship opportunities. At interview weekend I fell in love with the reputable CSAA program, the city of Athens, and opportunities provided by the University. I’m also looking forward to SEC football!

Words to live by: If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. -John Quincy Adams

Hometown:   Birmingham, AL

Undergraduate Institution:   The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Assistantship:   UGA-Housing for Student Leadership

Areas of interest in Student Affairs:  Housing, Student Organizations, Conduct

Why I chose UGA: I choose UGA for its large and active student body, highly active faculty, and UGA’s beautiful campus.  I have always wanted to attend a large public state school, and UGA is exactly what I was looking for.

Words to live by:   We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. – Walt Disney

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, College Park

Assistantship: Center for Leadership & Service- Dawg Camp & LeaderShape

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Orientation, the First Year Experience, & Leadership

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the cohort model, curriculum, & the welcoming CSAA students I met while interviewing. The cohort size is great- not too big or too small, so you really get to know each other! The classes are engaging and the faculty genuinely care about your success as a student and student affairs practitioner. The students I met when I interviewed were so kind and helpful that I immediately felt comfortable at UGA.

Words to live by: “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle”

Name: Ben Wentworth

Hometown: Athens, GA

Undergraduate Institution: Gainesville State College and UGA

Assistantship: Gainesville State College-Admissions 

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: leadership development and judiciary.

Why I chose UGA: History of the program and quality of faculty. 

Words to live by:  The mystery if life us not a problem to solve but a reality to experience. (Frank Herbert, Dune)