There is no doubt about it: our students are our future and having a strong support system is crucial to their success. Valparaiso University’s Jessica Segally acknowledges this notion and is truly passionate about making sure they are getting the support they need.
Working as the Assistant Director of Academic Services for the Graduate School, Segally’s job is to guide students and help them to be successful in their academic careers while ensuring that the university is maintaining its student-centric outlook. Segally is a shining example of an individual who truly cares for the futures of students, both in practice and in philosophy.
“I’ve always wanted to work in academia in a support staff role,” Segally said. “I really like the idea of working with people one-on-one in an atmosphere that encourages community and creativity. I find fulfillment in supporting students on their academic journeys and being an important resource for them.”
Segally explained that her outlook on life revolves around small acts of kindness when communicating with others, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whenever she is writing an email or starting a Zoom session, she always begins with a friendly greeting.
“The skills a person in my role has to have are relationship building, consistent communication, and problem-solving,” Segally said. “Thus, taking the time to be welcoming and friendly while also maintaining a strong network of supporters is important for success in my position.”
Segally stated that she subscribes to a philosophy that her pastor at Valley Baptist Church in Valparaiso often recites: “people don’t care what you know until they know how much you care.”
She said that this statement heavily resonates with her and has had a tremendous impact on how she operates in her job and in her life overall.
Segally expressed that in all the years of her work, she has learned that one cannot improve themselves without having strong and healthy relationships with others and being able to adapt to change. In addition, her past supervisors and mentors have had a major positive impact on how she approaches her work.
“Whenever a student reaches out to me after graduation telling me how much they appreciate how kind I was to them and how supportive I was, it is such an incredibly great feeling,” Segally said. “Times like these prove that even the smallest gestures of kindness and support can have a lasting impact on someone. Even more so, it also serves as a reminder that I am where I am today because of the support I received from others. And that feeling means the world to me.”
In her free time, Segally loves to spend time with her husband and her baby boy.