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New opportunities merging education and passion

January 30, 2018 by Abigail Blaes

photo of Abigail Blaes in studio

“So do you want it?” For a moment I didn’t say anything. I glanced between the three other faces looking back at me. Did she just ask what I think she had? “The… the job?”

“Yes.” I couldn’t tell you who in the room had said that. They were offering me the job. I had prepared for this interview for weeks, and it was playing out better than I ever could have imagined. Shocked and humbled, I quickly blurted out my acceptance. With my head still reeling, I stumbled over my words of appreciation and excitement.

The next few moments was a blur of shaking hands and expressing enthusiasm as my three interviewers went back to their day jobs. My feet somehow found themselves planted back in front of the elevator. A woman stepped off the elevator, and I gave her the peppiest smile and “hello!” of my life. I raced down to the ground floor and towards my car, phone in hand poised to call my mom with the news that I was officially employed by the Office of Web and New Media at Missouri State University. Did that just happen?

Nun-Sense

Working for an order of religious sisters for the past three summers in their communications office certainly taught me a great deal. This nontraditional work environment began as an intimidating volunteer opportunity. I was there to get the service hours I needed and then to get out. I stayed for four years. It’s no secret that my appreciation and admiration for this group of women grew as my time with them went on.

There’s a great deal the sisters have taught me:

  • When in doubt of someone’s name, “sister” works just fine.
  • Not all nuns wear the black habits anymore.
  • Buildings and people with history are the most interesting.
  • The morning paper should always be read with a bowl of M&Ms close at hand for subconscious snacking.
  • My best work comes from working on something I value.
  • You can find you lifelong passion in the place where you least expect.

While working for this group of women that I would eventually call friends, I found the career that merges all of my passions in life. I began down a path that led me here.

“Missouri State had become my home away from home freshman year. This new home became my place of education and now my place of work.”

Exploring and expanding

I entered my sophomore year of college with a comforting level of certainty and excitement. I had decided where I wanted to be. After a meeting with my adviser, I proudly opened my Missouri State University portal to see my major newly listed as Public Relations – Pre-admission. The next several semesters of college would only continue to keep me excited and engaged for what the future held.

In my second to last semester at Missouri State, however, I was met with an opportunity I was hesitant to take on. A friend had referred me to a webpage outlining an internship with the MSU Office of Web and New Media. This was too good to be true, right? Scrolling through the page, I could feel the familiar certainty growing in my gut. This should be my next step. I wanted this to be my next step.

I could tell my time with the Sisters was coming to a close, and I was ready for something new and different. Fate seemed to have placed this in front of me at just the right moment. The next few weeks consisted of a whirl wind of activities: an online application, an interview, an offer, and an excited yelling session with my mom on the phone. Missouri State had become my home away from home freshman year. My home away from home became my place of education and now my place of work.

This new opportunity could not have come at the more perfect time in the more perfect place. Even if it was a little unexpected.

Filed Under: web strategy and development Tagged With: feature, job, Missouri State University, Office of Web and New Media, religious, religious sisters, student

Monthly video round-up for August 2014

September 2, 2014 by

Tyler Beck

Each month I highlight some of the videos posted to the Missouri State University YouTube channel. The goal of these monthly posts is to share the great production work being done by the staff and student videographers in the office of web and new media, as well as videos produced by other units on campus.

Please feel free to share and embed these videos on your websites and social media presences where appropriate.

President Smart’s Instagram video series

To welcome students back to campus this fall, the office of web and new media worked with President Smart to develop a short Instagram video series. The seven-video series focused on key Welcome Weekend activities and “must-do’s” for new and returning students alike.

See the videos on the President’s blog along with comments from students and others on campus.

What’s New at MSU 2013-14

2013-14 was a great year for Missouri State. From impressive new facilities to achievements of our students and faculty, we have a lot of good news to share.

This video was produced by Ozarks Public Television for the office of the president.

60 Seconds of Welcome Weekend

Three days and 15+ events in just 60 seconds. This video is a quick round-up of Welcome Weekend festivities.

This video was produced by web and new media for the office of student engagement.

Experience the MSU College of Business

When you’re in a place that’s right for you, you just know it. The Missouri State College of Business wants to help you find that feeling on our campus.

This video was produced by the office of web and new media for the College of Business.

Graduate student aids professor in grapevine research

While many students are passionate about the inner workings of plants, few get to work side-by-side with a professor and participate in groundbreaking research. LeAnn Hubbert, a plant science and agriculture graduate student, has been working closely with Dr. Wenping Qiu, a research professor in the William H. Darr School of Agriculture.

This video was produced by the division of marketing and communications for the spotlight system.

Taking a new look at the needs of cancer patients

Third time’s the charm for junior Kirby Williams – at least when it comes to deciding on a major. The former pre-law, political science major turned chemistry student has found a new place in the psychology department and within a new field: psycho-oncology.

This video was produced by the office of university communications for My Place at Missouri State.

Production services

Please visit our Video Services page if you are interested in having our office produce a video for your University unit or department.

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: agriculture, business, campus, college of business, facilities, graduate, instagram, my place, new, new media, new videos, News, president, production, psychology, research, smart, Social Media, spotlight, story, student, update, Video, welcome weekend, YouTube

Monthly video round-up for July 2014

July 31, 2014 by

Tyler Beck

Each month I highlight some of the videos posted to the Missouri State University YouTube channel. The goal of these monthly posts is to share the great production work being done by the staff and student videographers in the office of web and new media, as well as videos produced by other units on campus.

Please feel free to share and embed these videos on your websites and social media presences where appropriate.

Getting the juicy details

Grapes – they make jams, wine, juices. But Dr. Wenping Qiu discovered the first grape DNA virus, and he looks to these plants for answers on disease progression.

This video was produced by the office of web and new media for a Mind’s Eye research feature.

Looking beyond the surface to reveal our hidden past

Beauty may be skin deep, but like archaeology, it’s what lies beneath the surface that counts. Dr. Elizabeth Sobel, associate professor of anthropology, investigates local history through material remains.

This video was produced by the office of web and new media for a Mind’s Eye research feature.

Thinking outside the box

Meet Derek – collaborator, innovator, tech-lover.

This video was produced by the office of web and new media for a student spotlight story on recent alum Derek Parker.

Production services

Please visit our Video Services page if you are interested in having our office produce a video for your University unit or department.

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: agriculture, anthropology, archaeology, electronic arts, history, mind's eye, mountain grove, new media, new videos, production, research, spotlight, story, student, technology, Video, YouTube

Introducing My Place at Missouri State

April 27, 2012 by

My Place at Missouri StateCollege is a time of transition, growth and fun. My Place at Missouri State aims to capture all the emotions and changes of a student’s years at Missouri State by following new students from their first semester until graduation day.

Last week, the first cohort of six students was introduced to the site. Their stories about adjusting to college, deciding on a major and living life as a Missouri State Bear will be shared each semester until they graduate. These stories will be both written and video pieces.

The future of My Place

Each fall another group of new students will be added to the site. Their stories will be shared along with the follow-up pieces about the first cohort of students, who will then be sophomores.

The student stories and videos will be organized by year (e.g. freshman) and by name. When reading about one student, links to all other videos and stories about them will be included on a right sidebar, allowing visitors to read more about their journey.

This long-term spotlighting will help “tell” the story of the student and the role the University plays in helping students achieve their goals.

A resource for recruitment, retention

My Place at Missouri State tells the students’ stories of the University in their own words. These stories can be integrated into recruitment and retention pieces for specific departments, programs or for the University in general.

You can link directly to a specific student that you think resonates with your audience, such as out-of-state, or even a class type, such as freshman. A feed of the posts about a certain student can also be embedded within your website.

The students will be featured in videos each spring, which can also be shared across a variety of platforms. These videos will reflect on their overall experience for the year and also touch on a theme, such as advice for future freshmen.

Student selection

The current students were selected from recommendations provided by advisers, GEP professors, the Honors College and admissions recruiters.

A call for nominations will go out in fall 2012 for the next cohort students to join the My Place site.

Filed Under: web strategy and development Tagged With: my place, recruitment, resource, retention, student

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