Chad Quiñones
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA USA
"Meet the people doing the job you want to do...people love talking about themselves and what they do, take advantage of this and soak in what people have to tell you."
Career Roadmap
Chad's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Huntingdon Area Senior High School
Bachelor's Degree
Communications/Journalism
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Degree
Counseling and College Student Development
Eastern Illinois University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Associate Director, Alumni Engagement :
Bachelor's Degree: Communications/Journalism
Graduate Degree: Counseling and College Student Development
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I grew up in a small town with parents who didn't attend college but were supportive. My mentors ended up being HS teachers.
2.
Working in multiple departments on campus, I met professional staff members who loved what they did for work. These were professionals in student facing positions, and I loved working for them.
3.
In HS I wanted to be an actor or a journalist. I spent a lot of time in theater/choir and taking journalism electives. I did this with the help of teachers from each concentration.
4.
The professional staff I worked for opened up a new line or work I didn't even know existed and encouraged me to complete a masters degree in College Student Development. It was the best decision!
5.
I eventually followed the direction from my journalism teacher and went to college for Communications, at the same place the teacher sent his own daughter for the same degree.
6.
Grad school opened my eyes to the world of Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration. I studied theories, gained experience in campus departments and gained a better perspective of the field
7.
While in college I was an over involved student. From church organizations to on campus jobs, from extracurricular activities to volunteering.
8.
Grad School > Res Life/St. Activities > Alumni Relations There is no correct path but my career lead me from small town VA to Los Angeles CA. I took a leap and have loved every minute!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Higher Education administration is long hours for not the best pay.
How I responded:
Higher Education is a passion. Early in my career I worked long, long hours and had more direct student contact than I ever dreamed of, it was fun and challenging. After getting great experience you begin to want different things and move ahead in your career and pay scale.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My family wasn't able to help me a great deal financially through school. I took out multiple student loans and am still paying them off. When applying for grad school I was told, "don't pay for it, get an assistant ship." (I need more space here)