Apparel Design and Development ‘04

I work as a Disaster Response Coordination Specialist for Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit housing organization which partners with families in need to provide them with affordable housing. I spent my first two years out of school working with Habitat’s Campus Chapters and Youth Programs department where I assisted in the coordination of the Collegiate Challenge Program (a national alternative break program), did resource development, planned and facilitated trainings on fundraising, leadership development, volunteer recruitment and retention as well as many other areas, and did much more than I ever imagined, including building homes in Costa Rica and India and traveling throughout the U.S. for training and building events.

Without my experience at Stout I don’t think that I would have had the broad knowledge required to execute my positions. Having graduated from Stout with a degree in Apparel Design and Development, many people thought I was crazy to take a volunteer position for a home builder instead of heading off to New York as many of my peers did. Through my education in my field, and the three others that I tried during my five years at Stout, I learned what I was and was not looking for in a job. Stout’s social world not only made me comfortable working with various audiences, but it introduced me to Habitat, where I have truly found a place where I can use all of my talents and still feel that I am learning more everyday.

Attending Stout gave me the opportunity to have an amazing college experience by being part of various clubs, on and off campus jobs, sports, social and academic clubs. It may have taken me a few tries to find the major that was best for me, but everyone was very helpful throughout the entire time I spent in Menomonie. I may not have chosen to directly utilize my degree, but without it, I would not be where I am today, which is very happy in my current job and moving up within and organization I love, plus, I wouldn’t be able to make the killer Halloween costumes that Southwest Georgia now has the pleasure of experiencing.

Thanks Stout