After college, graduate school and several job changes around the United States, Colleen Quinn was content teaching civic engagement and conducting research for her Ph.D at the University of California Los Angeles. She had no intention of leaving California or searching for another job.
Tony Marcolina | Argonaut
University of Idaho Director of Student Involvement Colleen Quinn, right, and UI senior Kelsie Saxe prepare for the first day of classes Thursday in the ASUI office.
When Quinn read the job description for the University of Idaho’s director of student engagement, however, she said she had to apply.
“I literally read it and went ‘That’s my job,'” Quinn said.
Quinn said she learned of the opening from UI’s Director of Multicultural Affairs Eddie Ruiz, with whom she used to work. She applied in December, came to campus for an interview in February and was offered — and accepted — the position in March.
The Department of Student Engagement has since had a name change to the Department of Student Involvement. Greg Tatham, UI’s assistant vice provost of student affairs, said this is because the term “engagement” is overused on campus.
As UI’s new director of student involvement, Quinn said she’ll oversee the Vandal Entertainment Board, Commons programming, advise ASUI and look over the department’s general operations. Quinn will supervise Student Involvement Coordinator Denise Carl, Volunteer Programs Coordinator Bruce Mann, Student Media Adviser Shawn O’Neal and Administrative Assistant Meladi Mottern.
Quinn attended college at the University of Washington, where she was involved with her sorority and student government.
She went on to work in public relations and sales, but said she missed the college setting, so she went back to school to get a master’s degree in student affairs from the University of Portland.
There, Quinn said she worked in housing, multicultural and student affairs. Her first job out of graduate school was at Boston University, where she oversaw all of its leadership programs, student government and student organizations.
To be closer to her family, Quinn took a position at UW’s Bothel branch.
“It was a pretty new campus,” Quinn said. “So when I got there, there were about five student organizations. In my two years of being there, we grew it to about 25. I started up a spring break program, advised their entertainment board and revamped the orientation program.”
She then decided it was important for her to get her Ph.D, which is how she ended up at UCLA.
Quinn said she’ll spend most of her first year at UI getting a feel for the campus, and working with her team to better inform and involve students about the department’s events.
“On every campus that I’ve worked at, the most common complaint is that students don’t know what’s going on,” she said. “I don’t care if you’re on a campus of 2,000 or 65,000 — that’s the most common complaint.”
Quinn said she hopes to become cognizant of how students find their information, and remain three steps ahead of them at all times.
Tatham said Quinn’s new ideas and previous experience made her the best candidate for the job.
UI junior and Summer Student Coordinator Clare Haley worked with Quinn over the summer to plan events like Palousafest.
Haley said Quinn is a fun person to work with because she brings excitement to the office every day.
“I also think she’s going to be focused on really finding out what students want to see on campus so we can increase attendance at events,” Haley said.
Haley said it’s important for students to be involved because student fees go toward several of the programs Quinn oversees.
“That’s student dollars being spent,” Haley said. “So getting to know Colleen and letting her know what you’d like to see on campus is important — it’s your money being spent.”
Britt Kiser can be reached at [email protected]