Alumni in 5

Elizabeth Buchanan '18

Elizabeth Buchanan '18

Employer
Kettering University - Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebuchanan7/

1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
I ended up switching my major at the end of my fourth year while at Grand Valley and from there I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do. I ended up working as a media specialist in a high school when I started my Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs. I fell in love with working with college students in a variety of manners. My first job was actually at University of Southern Indiana in Career Counseling before transition to Kettering University to work in Alumni Engagement.

2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
Talking walks every night in the spring of freshman year...once it started to warm up. A group of us (4-8 of us) would always go for long walks on campus. It was always so peaceful and quiet until we made it loud.

3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
You don't have to work 70+ hour weeks to be successful. Set boundaries that work for you and your life because work is only a small part of your life.

4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand Valley experience.
Challenging, freeing, enlightening.

5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
I would like to continue to connect with students and alumni and show them there is value in both work and education but also help them understand the importance of finding what is right for them. We put so much pressure on ourselves at such a young age nowadays to make the right choice when in reality we will probably change careers at least once throughout our lives. Instead of putting this pressure, we should value our mental health and just learn to explore.

October 2022

Interest Area(s)
Psychology

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Page last modified October 26, 2022