UGA Campus Spotlight: Student engagement coordinator works to make students feel welcome
“The more fun that students have, the more work that’s being done behind the scenes,” Kayla McKinney said.
She knows this firsthand, because she’s the one doing that work. As coordinator of student engagement for the Mary Frances Early College of Education, McKinney works daily to support students and make them feel welcomed.
McKinney’s role can be divided into three main buckets: student-focused events and programs, advising the college’s student ambassadors, and providing staff support to the College’s 20 student organizations. Events and programs can further be broken down into student appreciation, career preparation, and engagement with the broader University, such as Homecoming.
Working with the student ambassadors is a constant for McKinney, between Monday night meetings, College events, tours, and more.
“I see them every day,” she said. “They are amazing, and they always help. I could not do my job without them, because the events that I plan logistically could not take place without their additional hands.”