For this
interview I decided to talk to the director of TRIO Student Support Services at
Arizona State at the Downtown Phoenix location, Rafael Guzman. Some of his
responsibilities as director of a TRIO program are to administer the budget
that is given to the program by the federal government, collaborate with
Educational Outreach and Student Services to develop and administer the program
and its services and manage and supervise all TRIO staff. When I asked him he
chose the director position for TRIO SSS he told me that he is always
interested in positions where he can help students navigate the university. His
first college jobs while still a student here at ASU were in the Career and
Advisement center. After he graduated with his bachelor’s degree he worked for
an Education Planning and Information Center, which gave him experience
assisting students with information on postsecondary schools nationwide.
He mention that some of the
experience and education required for his position include a master’s degree, experience
with postsecondary schools, experience with diverse populations and experience
with all university departments (financial aid, career services, student
financials, admissions). Something he said was very important was to have a passion
for what you do in order to be successful at this particular position and be
able to help other students succeed.
Sounds like a very important and equally rewarding job. I would love to find something with both of those qualities one day. I know that my supervisor, a lobbyist/advocate for progressive issues, loves what she does because she finds it so fulfilling.
ReplyDeleteHi Eduardo,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the director of TRIO is a very interesting man, and has worked hard for where he is today. I find it interesting that so many of the people that were interviewed agreed that getting an education (and the highest forms of education) is extremely important to pursuing a job in the government or public service sector. Will you be following any of his advice? I know the advice that my supervisor gave me is something I will definitely try to follow. Getting a degree AND a masters seems to be the "basic," requirement for most jobs in today's world.
Now with education it seems that more jobs are requiring more than an undergraduate degree. So I can see why one would need passion, to return back to school and get a masters.Passion seems to be the key for any career one decides to do. Do you if that is where he saw himself at the end of the day?
ReplyDelete