It’s not hard to see why Joe Nolan is well liked and involved on campus. He’s an easy going kind of guy that takes pride in everything he does.
This week’s campus celebrity is a senior majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in studio art. His list of extracurricular activities includes Student Senate and Public Relations Co-Chair for UAB. He was also an Orientation Leader for this year’s incoming freshman and can be spotted around campus giving tours for the SHARP Team to future Marauders!
In a recent interview; Joe opened up about his busy but fulfilling life at college.
Along with Liz Pendleton, Joe’s duty as PR Chair for UAB is publicizing the organization. Joe described his latest project, the Spirit Squad.
“We’ll go to sporting events and be the student section,” Joe explained. “Pretty much be loud and obnoxious.”
The Spirit Squad will be a UAB sponsored student section that will bring what Joe described as more energy at home games. “We want to establish a tradition, a really great student section.”
Spend just a few minutes with Joe, and you realize how much passion and spirit he has for MU.
“It took me a long time to get to this school,” Joe said as he explained his journey to MU. He attended Montgomery County Community College and art school. But for Joe, it just didn’t click for him. “I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life.”
It was during his own orientation at MU that he knew he was right where he belonged.
“I’m really glad I made it here,” Joe says with a smile. “I’ve never had a bad experience here at school.”
Upon graduation, Joe says he would like to come back to MU and work in Student Affairs.
“I would love to come back here and work with young adults and help this next generation find who they are in this world,” Joe animatedly states. “It’s your first time to be free and you have to take charge of yourself. You’re one step closer to finding who you are.”
Joe then described himself as feeling uncertain, nervous and shy as a freshman.
And how would he describe himself now as a senior?
“Is boisterous a good word?” Joe asked jokingly. “Genuine. I like people to know I mean what I say. That’s why I’m so involved on campus, because it’s a part of who I am.”
Joe attributes being involved and meeting new people to find out who he is. “The best thing that happened to me was just the willingness to try.”
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Millersville chapter.