Assistant Director, Engineering Program Coordinator, San Luis Obispo, CA

Please introduce yourself. Who are you and what is your job/career?

My name is Katie Jennings and I am now an Assistant Director and Multicultural Engineering Program Coordinator in Engineering Student Services. I help lead an office of 9 advisors that support over 6,000 undergraduate engineering students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

As a kid, I wanted to be a geologist. I actually loved rocks and learning more about where they came from!

What was your first job?

My first “job” was a babysitter, which I did throughout high school. As I was ending my time in high school, I had a fun internship with a company called Preferred Hotel Group, which represents independent hotels around the world. This led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration where I concentrated in tourism and event planning. Throughout college I worked in hotels, Boys & Girls Clubs, and on campus roles. My first full time career job after college was an Event Planner for a Career Services office at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I planned large events that brought in thousands of students and employers. I even started my own business as a Wedding Coordinator – Katie McGuire Events. After some time, I knew I wanted to support college students in a different way and pursued a Master’s in Counseling and Guidance.

Can you describe your profession to those who might have never heard of it before? 

My profession consists of individuals who support students pursuing higher education degrees. On every college campus, staff represent a large support system for students navigating their time in college. As students pursue their academic journey a lot can happen. My profession supports students through navigating their academic career by providing personal, mental health, academic, and professional support.

What was your process for choosing your career path? Was it a long journey or an easy one? At what moment did you know that you wanted to be in this profession? 

My process for choosing this career path was being open to trying something new. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but as I had experiences in life and in different jobs, I was able to identify what gave me joy and purpose. Supporting students who are navigating life challenges at such a unique time of life was exactly where I knew I wanted to be. I knew I wanted this type of profession during my last year of college. I took a role as a student orientation leader and found myself supporting students during pivotal and tough life moments. Although tough, I felt a lot of purpose and that more could be done for students. After college, I decided to take a role I was qualified for (event planning) but then set a goal to get my Master’s Degree.

Can you walk us through your typical day of work? 

My typical day starts with saying hi to all of my coworkers. As a leader in my office, it is important to me that I make time for everyone to feel seen and heard. I check in to see how they are doing and see what their day looks like. These are informal opportunities to have fun and share life updates. After that I spend a majority of my day meeting with students who often have encountered major road blocks or experienced a traumatic life event. I meet individually with students and we talk about their goals and options while navigating their next steps. On some days I hold advising groups or teach classes. My days always consist of student interactions, emails, and some meetings with other groups on campus.

What do you love most about your job? 

My favorite part of my job is being that support system for a student who really needs encouragement or an advocate on their journey. I do this for the students!

What questions should someone really ask themselves if they want to get into your profession? 

This is not a well paying field, so I would really ask someone if they have a passion for helping others. It is also helpful to have an educational background in counseling or student development.

What did you study? How much schooling do you think is required to get into your role? What could you have skipped?

I pursued a Master’s Degree in Counseling & Guidance. This type of degree is an industry standard for my profession and in some cases required at universities. I would recommend working at a university prior to pursuing these degrees to make sure it is an environment you want to continue to work in.

Did you have any mentors that helped you along the way? 

Yes, absolutely! I had many bosses that supported me and that I continue to look towards for mentorship today.

What was the biggest piece of advice that helped you get to where you are? 

I used to work in a job environment that was really big on feedback. Learning how to receive and give feedback in a constructive way has been a huge asset to my career. I have been promoted 6 times during my 9 years at Cal Poly. Much of that has been because I work hard and listen to feedback of others.

What do you think it takes to thrive in this role? What is the most and least rewarding part of your job?

This job takes an empathetic personality, but also requires boundaries. Although we are not licensed therapists and refer out when needed, this role is largely like a counselor. Sometimes these roles feel like the safest place for students and they share things that they haven’t shared with anyone else. Being able to show empathy and have strong emotional boundaries is important. The most rewarding is meeting a student at a really low spot in life and finding the resources and next steps to help them recover and grow. The least rewarding is when you cannot change things quickly or hit systemic barriers that make it hard to support the student. There are many barriers with our legal system and support for survivors of domestic or sexual assault. In some of these cases, we can become large advocates, but the system itself is flawed and difficult to navigate.

How is the flexibility? Work life balance? 

This depends a lot on the university and your direct supervisor. Luckily, I am in a role with a lot of flexibility. I work a lot, but am never required to work outside of business hours. If I do, I can make up the hours elsewhere.

What tools/resources do you frequently use? Any tools you recommend?

With a job that can be emotionally tolling, the best resources to me are the personal supporters in my life. Whether that is family, friends, or a therapist, those are the supports I need to keep healthy boundaries and be the best person I can be when I show up at work.

What would you say to someone who is looking to figure out what they want to do?

Keep an open mind. There has been such a focus on finding a “passion.” That is great when you do, but we don’t end up there the first or sometimes tenth time. It takes time. I recommend starting with figuring our who you are. Ask what your values, interests, personality and strengths are. Self-discovery can lead us to a place where when we are confronted with a decision, we know ourselves well enough to feel more confident.

What is something you do when things get difficult? How do you handle stress/ challenges?

I go outside. I have a big garden that I will tend to. Or I will take a walk with my dogs. Being outside puts things back into perspective for me.

What are your future ambitions? What's next for you?

I am really open. I love where I am at, but always have an eye on the next thing too. I have considered pursuing a doctorate program or learning more about becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I also love teaching college classes and hope to continue to do more of that.

Any last bit of advice you’d like to share?

The career search process is a journey. Ask for help if you need it! I also highly recommend doing informational interviews with people that inspire you.

If people have further questions, how can they find you/contact you?

Feel free to email me: kjenni04@calpoly.edu