Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!
This week’s featured mentor is Jenn MacFadyen, an Instructor and Academic Advisor for the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health in the College of Human Ecology.
Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.
My experiences with the College of Human Ecology first began while I was working as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for K-State Athletics; students from the undergraduate athletic training program were assigned to me as part of their clinical rotation requirements. I began meeting and interacting with a variety of staff which eventually led me to my current position. Both Shawna Jordan and Morgan Rakestraw have been such great mentors and colleagues through my time working with their students and now working alongside them.
Getting my Master’s degree in the area I did, as well as completing an advising certificate, really prepared me to make the transition from the clinical side of athletic training to the educational side. The knowledge I gained through the Counseling and Student Development curriculum is utilized in my every day interactions with my students.
Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?
I currently serve as an Instructor and Academic Advisor within the Athletic Training Program. I teach the Introduction to Athletic Training class and lab, as well as a Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries class that is part of the Coaching Certificate offered through the College of Education. I am beginning my third year as an instructor and my second year as an advisor. I work with both students who are in our professional phase and those who are getting ready to apply. With advising, I meet the incoming students over the summer during their Orientation and Enrollment and get them prepared for the upcoming school year and continue to meet with them as they progress through their academic careers.
Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.
This is my first time being a part of the mentor program and I am very excited about it. I think being able to guide students through the uncertainties and stresses that come with planning for the future will result in some really positive outcomes! I have been where these students have been, and it truly was not that long ago, and so I understand how they feel. Having some experience under my belt, in a variety of settings, will allow me to provide some different avenues for my mentee to explore.
If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?
To know that everything happens for a reason. We can spend days, months and even years planning for something and in a split second that can all go array. You must be able to trust in the process and know your education and your experiences will get you to where you need to be. Life is sometimes funny, but always has a way of working out.
