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Graduate Assistant Profile
Adrian Silberstein
Fitness Graduate Assistant
Adrian Silberstein
Fitness Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: I knew that campus recreation interested me when I was working for Rec Services at Upper Iowa University. I just wanted to take a little time off from school to start working on my career first.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: My path started at Upper Iowa. As an undergraduate I began working at the Rec Center as a front desk worker, then as a group fitness instructor, lifeguard/swim instructor, and then a personal trainer. After taking two years off from school to be a personal trainer full time, I knew I wanted to make a change. So I applied to ISU in Rec Services as I felt I had a lot to offer after my experience in undergrad as well as professionally.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: I started working for ISU rec services in August 2020.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: My favorite thing about working in campus recreation is the energy everyone has in making a difference in the lives of others. I think it is so important to bring positive energy especially when some people feel so strongly against exercise.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: One thing I wish I knew was the time it takes to put everything together behind the scenes, there is a lot that goes on to plan especially right now with COVID, things are very carefully thought out to see where the next step is.
Q: What are you most excited about in a professional position? If you might not be going into campus recreation after graduation, how did your GA position help you achieve your goals? (GA)
A: I am most excited about making a difference in people’s lives in my professional career. I loved what I did as a full time personal trainer, but wanted a better work/life balance as I was working a lot before. I feel like the steps I am making here at ISU whether it is with campus recreation or it is with my research and worksite wellness I believe I can make a difference in the lives of others whether it be coworkers or students at a University.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time I like to spend time with my husband and our cat Tony, play softball, watch sports, go hunting and fishing, and exercise!
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: I would definitely say I would eat steak or seafood and mushrooms every day without any health consequences!
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Student Staff Profile
Jacob Jorgensen
Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Program Assistant in the Group Fitness Office
Jacob Jorgensen
Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Program Assistant in the Group Fitness Office
Student Staff Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: A couple weeks into the Learn to Teach training I realized that I had a passion for exercise and I discovered that I really enjoyed working in an exercise environment. This was unexpected for me since I was a Computer Engineering major at the time and I was working at Barilla as an intern in the IT department. Through my start with Rec Services I began to see that I didn’t enjoy working at a computer all day and there were other opportunities in life that I could take in terms of a future career.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: I began as just a regular participant in group fitness classes and when the opportunity to become an instructor was made available I immediately decided to sign up for that. That was only the beginning though and I have had the opportunity to do more both through group fitness as an assistant in the office and branching out into the realm of personal training. I attribute both of these to the help and guidance of my boss and mentor Ashley Artist since she was always someone that I could go to for questions that I had or ask for guidance on what opportunities were available for me to take advantage of.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: I have been working at Recreation Services since the beginning of May 2019.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: My favorite thing is all the people that I get to know. I work directly and indirectly with a lot of students that are my same age with the same interests as myself. Through my job I have made many lifelong friendships with people that I otherwise may not have met. Along with the student employees, I also get to know some of the professional staff that work for Rec Services which has been great. There are many people to learn from and model my own actions off of, especially when I eventually move forward into the professional realm I know that I have many sources for not only recommendations, but also help with looking for future opportunities within this field.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: I feel like people should know how it feels. The work environment is so unique and I believe that since everyone shares common interests and are for the most part avid exercisers. Everyone you will work with has a positive attitude all of the time which makes working with other people all day incredibly enjoyable.
Q: What are you looking for in a future GA position?
A: In a future GA position I would be looking for opportunities to further develop myself and expand my professional skills. Through conferences and people that I know the campus recreation experience is pretty consistent across the board; I am optimistic that any future positions that I look into will offer plenty of opportunities for myself and an amazing environment to work in.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time the three main things that I enjoy doing are exercising, socializing with friends, and playing video games.
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: If I could eat any food every day for the rest of my life I would have to choose peanut butter since I have been doing that already for the past 2.5 years. Let’s keep that train rolling!
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Professional Staff Profile
Whitnie Nichols
Assistant Manager – Memberships and Customer Service
Whitnie Nichols
Assistant Manager – Memberships and Customer Service
Professional Staff Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: I was in my 4th year at Central Michigan University. I had recently become a student manager. My direct supervisor, Demond Pryor, encouraged me to come to our state conference that winter to check out the profession. I absolutely loved it and then went to NIRSA that spring in Austin and decided I no longer wanted to go to law school and wanted to do campus recreation professionally.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: I was a student employee with campus rec at Central Michigan University for 5 years. I started in the Bowling Center, then went to Service Desk & Memberships. Became the Program Coordinator (CMU’s version of ISU’s Head Supervisors) for Service Desk & Memberships. Then became a Student Manager. Our Director, Stan Shingles, asked me to fill in for our Admin Assistant when she was on vacation. So, started doing cash reconciliation my last year. After deciding I wanted to do this professionally, I secured a GA position in Facilities with UNLV. Then was hired at ISU upon graduation.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: I worked as the Facility Coordinator here for almost 8 years then started my current position in June 2019. So, I have been here for just over 9 years. But, including my undergrad and grad school experience, I’ve worked in this field for over 16 years.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: Every day is an adventure. There are some things that are routine and stay the same from day to day. But, you never know what crazy thing could happen. I also really enjoy working with students and helping develop them into young professionals.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: It’s so much more than just running a rec center.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in the field?
A: Seek out opportunities and DO NOT say no when offered a chance to learn something new! You never know when that experience could come in handy. Move away for grad school. Do NOT stay at the same institution if you have the opportunity to do your GA elsewhere. Everyone does things a little different and learning how to do things different ways is invaluable.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Spend time with my son and my husband. Kendrick, my 5yo, is my little sidekick. We do everything together when I’m not at work.
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: Italian or Mexican food. Hands down. I could eat pasta, salad, tacos, and nachos every day.
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Graduate Assistant Profile
Shane Chapman
Turfgrass Management Graduate Assistant
Shane Chapman
Turfgrass Management Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: I knew I wanted to try working in campus recreation during my undergrad at Iowa State.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: I was a student employee during my undergrad here at Iowa State Rec Services. I then applied to become the current GA for turfgrass management.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: Three years total. I worked for Recreation Services one year during undergrad and this is my second year as a graduate assistant.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: I get to mow grass for my job.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: There is a lot of work that goes into Recreation Services from all aspects. I didn’t realize how big of a program it actually is before I started working here.
Q: What are you most excited about in a professional position? If you might not be going into campus recreation after graduation, how did your GA position help you achieve your goals?
A: I do not plan on going into campus recreation after graduation, however being a GA has really helped me gain the work experience I need.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Besides watching grass grow… I really like to be active and especially enjoy golfing and skiing.
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: Chick-fil-A
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Student Staff Profile
Ariella May
Event Coordinator – Intern, Facility Supervisor, and Lifeguard
Ariella May
Event Coordinator – Intern, Facility Supervisor, and Lifeguard
Student Staff Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: The summer before my junior year I was lifeguarding and managing my hometowns pool and I started talking to our Parks and Rec Director about sports management and what would be the best route for me to do that while at Iowa State. I decided to switch my major to Event Management as the major had a few sports management classes. As I went through the following semester I grew closer with my bosses at Recreation Services who introduced me to Campus Recreation and NIRSA. Learning more about NIRSA and also what my bosses do in each area helped me to realize that I wanted to work for campus recreation in the future as well. This happened during the first few weeks of the spring semester my junior year and I was ecstatic that I found something I wanted to continue my education in and create those goals for. Currently I am completing my internship and looking into graduate schools and graduate assistant positions for after I graduate in May.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: My pathway started before I made it to Recreation Services. I started out lifeguarding at my hometowns aquatic center when I was 15 and within the next couple years I started managing. Lifeguarding and the pool has always been a big part of my life, as my dad has been the manager of my town’s pool since before I was born. Going into college I was encouraged by my sister, Allyssa, to come lifeguard with Recreation Services where she had been working. I interviewed with Andy and got the job starting right away my freshman year. I had a lot of fun lifeguarding, I made so many memories, and got close to so many people. I was honored to receive the award for Facility Operations Lifeguard of the Year for 2019-2020 school year. During that school year while I was lifeguarding I decided to apply to be a Facility Supervisor. In my supervisor training I was led to more areas within campus recreation that I was interested in and everything started to fall into place for me from there. Andy, David, Jason, and Doug helped me a lot and have been my biggest mentors throughout my years with Recreation Services as I look into graduate schools and continue my path with campus recreation.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: This is my fourth year working for Recreation Services.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: My favorite thing about working for campus recreation is the relationships that I have made with so many people. I have made so many new friends and have had so many great experiences that I would not have had if it wasn’t for campus recreation. I love how close knit we are with each other making the environment fun to work in. In the future I want to work with campus recreation to be able to instill some of those factors into whichever campus I decide to go to.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: One thing that I wished everyone knew about working in campus recreation is how great the environment is to be in. There are so many different areas within campus recreation that there is always a place for everyone.
Q: What are you looking for in a future GA position?
A: For a future graduate assistant position I am looking to work in aquatics or facilities/operations.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time I like to hang out with my friends and family, and do crafts such as hand lettering, painting, and woodworking.
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: Whirlybirds peanut butter dream or cookies and cream shake!
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Professional Staff Profile
Jarrad Chester
Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
Jarrad Chester
Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
Professional Staff Profile
Q: When did you know you wanted to work in campus recreation as a profession?
A: I didn’t know I wanted to work in Campus Recreation until the end of my first year in Graduate School at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). I was working for their outdoor recreation program called UNI Outdoors and my supervisor encouraged me to attend the national conference for outdoor recreation, the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE). When I was at the conference everything clicked that this was a real career that I could pursue and that I could work while doing what I loved. After the conference, I worked closely with my supervisor to prepare for a career in the outdoor industry within collegiate recreation.
Q: What was your pathway to get to where you are today?
A: I was a Recreation Minor during my undergrad at Murray State University and this led to my first outdoor job at Southwoods, a private children’s summer camp. I got a chance to work at a climbing wall, challenge course, and on a trips program. When I left at the end of my first summer I knew I wanted to work in recreation. This led me to UNI to pursue my Master’s Degree in Leisure, Youth, and Human Services. The work experience from working at Southwoods was enough to get me a position working at the climbing wall for UNI Outdoors, and once I started working in climbing, I was hooked. I was able to work at UNI Outdoors and continue to develop my outdoor skills while studying in a Recreation based degree, and still working summers in recreation. All of these experiences helped me connect to awesome and supportive mentors, and helped build confidence in myself as a leader.
Q: How long have you worked for Recreation Services?
A: Professionally from 2014 to present, as a student I started working in recreation starting in 2010.
Q: Favorite thing about working in Campus Recreation.
A: I love that my job allows me opportunities to instruct and teach critical skills and still work in an office. It allows for variety in the workplace and keeps things from getting to stagnant.
Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in campus recreation?
A: It’s a real job and you can work with really fun people. You can do something you love and have an impact on students.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in the field?
A: Practice, Practice, Practice. You don’t have to be the best at every outdoor skill, but you do have to constantly practice and stay up to date on industry standards. I’m 7 years in as a climbing instructor and I still practice skills regularly so I can teach them.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Woodworking and Climbing. I’ve recently picked up woodworking and if you haven’t tried it, it’s awesome to draw and make things.
Q: If you could eat any food every day for the rest of your life, without any health consequences, what would it be?
A: Buffalo Wild Wings, Traditional Wings, Mango Habanero and Parmesan Garlic, Ranch no blue cheese. There’s just something about chicken wings that I’ll always love. Even after a few years of being a vegetarian, there is no substitute for traditional wings