University of Southern Indiana

Student Affairs Office
Wright Administration
Room 103
812/464-1757 Phone
812/464-1956 Fax

About Student Affairs Office Staff Organizational Chart Student Affairs Directors VPSA Programming Grant Staff Development Committee Careers in Student Affairs 2006 HLC Self Study

Kourtney Barrett Eastham '06

Hometown: Brazil, Indiana

Major: BS, Public Relations/Advertising; Marketing (minor)

Current position: Area Coordinator, McWest Apartments, USI

What experiences and/or who at USI inspired you to pursue a career in Student Affairs?
I became an RA at the beginning of my sophomore year at USI. I fell in love with the concept of student development. Granted, at the time I just thought it was merely putting on programs and listening to students concerns. One day, the best of all area coordinators, Tracy Shadowens, asked me if I had ever considered Student Affairs. After a very lengthy discussion I began researching and slowing came to the realization that it was the career for me.

What did you do as an undergraduate to increase your student affairs experience before going to graduate school?
I was an RA and AMIGO and a member of BCM and SGA, serving leadership roles in all of them. My senior year I had the opportunity to become a residence hall director at USI where I supervised four RAs and oversaw 300 students. I worked with the Greek Community with programming, judicial, advising, and counseling.

How did you go about researching the field and know where you wanted to go to graduate school?
I had to put USI out of my mind. USI became my home and it also became the item I compared every other school against. I took the advice of my peers to heart by listening to where they went and what worked and didn't work for them. Then, I found Western Kentucky University.

What education have you had since USI?
Master of Arts in Education, Counseling and Student Affairs, Western Kentucky University

What is your ultimate goal for a career in student affairs?
My ultimate goal is to be a dean of Students. I would truly love to go back to USI and give back all the wonderful things that were given to me. USI is a great institution and provides amazing rewards to those who seek them.

What advice would you give a student interested in the field of student affairs?
The value of college is like money in a bank: The more time you invest, the more interest you gain. Then, in the end you will receive more back than what you put in.

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600

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