Natasha Richards (graduate, masters of divinity and MBA) is interested in listening to the pain and suffering of the people on campus as she recognizes that this university would be nothing without the people who make it possible. She not only cares about the present people but hopes for a thriving university for years to come. I had the honor to interview her about her position in the Andrews University Graduate Student Association.
What is your job as a graduate student liaison?
My number one job is to listen, and the second is to take the information that I hear, whether from administration or students, and find a solution. For example, one of the recent concerns is the graduation orientation schedule. So, I am working with the deans of all the schools, primarily Dean Yeagley and Dean Thorpe to streamline the orientation, so that they [graduate students] can get the general and academic orientation without them clashing. Title IX and inclusion and diversity training are at our orientation, and when they miss that, they miss those key parts. It is important that graduate students are not waiting till a crisis to figure out that information.
What should undergraduate and graduate students know about kinetic worship?
Inside AUGSA, we are run by a model called EPIC, which is enterprise, professionalism, intimacy, and community. Those are the four pillars that drive AUGSA. On that, intimacy and community are where kinetic focuses. Our student Chaplin Cristopher Mindanao (graduate, masters of divinity) is in charge. They get soul-fed and food-fed because we serve hot food. It bridges the gap between academic and spiritual life. It also helps with food insecurity since it’s another place students can come at 8pm on Thursday while school is in session, to be fed and have fellowship.
What events are you leading this year?
I actually just did the Epic talks. Epic talks are new this year, it is similar to Ted talks. For example, President Adam Maycock came and represented the business of Advent Health Hospital. The talk was useful for three different colleges: the college of business, the seminary, and the college of health and sciences. He was able to talk in 18 minutes about how the three come together. We try to bring speakers who can speak to people on multiple levels and bridge the gap of where Christ is. It allows them to get a model for their future careers. Also at Epic talks, we have networking prior to events. At this event, they came to recruit for jobs. He brought his whole team. Not only did he speak to us, but he invested in us. Epic talks are twice a year, once per semester. The next one is in April next year.
My second event comes in winter. It's called the step challenge. Whoever makes the most steps is given a prize. The first prize winner is given $500 towards tuition and the second and third are smaller [prizes]. The point of it is to get moving and help with mental challenges since in winter, people stop moving, which isn’t good for their minds. Last year, the first-place winner was actually an online student, and it was great.
Are there any opportunities to get involved with your events for students on campus? If so, how?
Yes, first things first, we are looking for a project manager who has the strength and knowledge of planning and executing events well. We usually have two; we need one more. The second way to get involved is every one of our areas needs volunteers to help. Anywhere from food prep, to singing, to praying. The project manager always needs event help. We call them ambassadors. There are different aspects to helping graduate students, so they are different ways of getting involved. I can be one of the contacts and can direct you to the right place.
How do you support the resident life at university towers? Can people reach out if they need help?
I let them know that I'm a person to talk to, so if they have concerns about anything and maybe they’re not ready to approach administration, I am one of the people with a listening ear and can take it to administration. It could be anything. We also created a flyer that will go around where they can ask the administrator. It’s a form that will go on the engagement app and will take their concerns, keeping their confidentiality, to the administrators. [The flyer is the image attached to this interview]
How are you working to bridge the gap between the administration, professors, and graduate students?
One of the things of my initiatives was to make sure to meet all the deans of all of our grad schools. We have five of them. Over the next two weeks, I will finish meeting the academic deans. This is to hear from their side to help bridge their gap. Next semester I will have an AUGSA booth where we just sit there and be available for our students so we can be present. One of the big things we hear is that they don't know that we are there. We want them to know we are not preferencing one grad school, but we are here for all our graduate students. The other thing is we are trying to have videos for our online students and having zoom links or online links to our events so they can be a part of it and not excluded from it.
One of the biggest things I do is to listen, not just listen for the problem but for a solution. Everyone needs to be heard, so I give time to the student, even if I have a meeting. I may be the only person they can vent to, a student or administrator. Then I ask how I can help. I am always honest in my answer so that I don't frustrate the person who is venting to me. I hold this position very carefully and I value every human being who speaks to me.
How does AUGSA help connect to the greater community surrounding Andrews?
In our EPIC model, the C stands for community, so we are actively trying to be involved with it. There are events we do with the community and students. For example, we had outreach for South Bend. We encouraged students to go out and give free gas cards and grocery cards. We partnered with the Lake Region Conference, Michiana Youth Federation, for the grand outreach: to resource them, help somebody smile, and give hope. We also encourage neighbor-to-neighbor communications. For example, we support Melendez and are a listening ear for local business owners.
Is there anything else you would like me to know?
It is very important that the students know that there is a place to relay their concerns. It is also important to relay their value and worth at the university. We want to know your needs, concerns, and help. There are big concerns and issues that students or administrators have that are not being addressed. We need the administration and students to know that we are here and value them and want the school to improve in all areas. A student association means nothing without the students.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.