Ann Marie Klotz

Current Position and Institution:
Dean of Campus Life, New York Institute of Technology

First Position and Institution:
Residence Hall Director, Albion College

I began my professional career two months after I graduated with my undergraduate degree. I knew that the financial obligations I had with my family meant that I could not survive on a graduate assistantship salary so I applied for positions that were “Masters preferred but not required” and was very happy to accept a position as a Residence Hall Director at a small, private residential, liberal arts college.

Learn to be a Jack/Jane/person of all trades. Working at a small school taught me the importance of being able to plug into wherever I may be needed. While I was technically employed by the department of Residential Life, I created events for the FYE program, directed the Vagina Monologues for the Women’s Center and worked closely with Orientation. During your first few years, maximize the opportunities to work with other campus partners and say yes to every experience that can connect you with students in new and exciting ways.

Learn how to be an excellent supervisee. So many people talk about what their supervisor can do for them, but I learned in my first job that every time I took work of my boss’s desk I was positively rewarded. This shaped my perspective about the supervisor/supervisee relationship. When our boss wins, we all win–staff and students. My job then (and now) is to make my boss look good and remove any obstacles from their ability to achieve their (and our departmental) goals.

The #SATBT series asks higher education and student affairs professionals to share a picture and reflect on a memory and/or one of the most important lessons the learned from their first job in the field.

Consider contributing your story for potential inclusion in the book version…