Name: Colleen Seeber
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Education: B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Florida State University
M.Ed. College Student Affairs Administration, University of Georgia
Department at Pace: Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences
How has your experience in NYC been so far?
My experience in the city has been wonderful so far. I love that New York is a walking city and there are so many interesting and beautiful places to see around every corner. I spend my lunch breaks walking around TriBeCa, exploring all of the shops and streets within walking distance; it’s really invigorating. I feel so grateful to live in a place where opportunities feel endless.
Can you tell us a bit about Student Support Services?
Student Support Services (SSS) is one of eight competitive federal TRIO grant programs that emerged from the Higher Education Act of 1965. This legislation was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s domestic reform program, the Great Society, and was designed to eliminate poverty and racial inequality in the United States. SSS provides an array of services to first-generation college students who may be Pell-eligible, disabled and/or veterans, to support their academic achievement, timely graduation and entry into jobs or graduate school. Pace SSS includes academic, career and personal counseling, financial aid and scholarship information, tutoring, undergraduate research opportunities, and social and cultural events.
What kind of changes are you planning to bring to SSS at Pace?
Right now, I feel like there isn’t enough community within SSS and my first goal is to change that. I spent my first week and a half in my new position meeting with and talking to students who are part of the SSS program. One of the things that stood out to me the most was the amount of ambition and drive that students have to reach their goals. It was inspiring to hear stories of students who are holding down a job and an internship, taking 18 credits, commuting to the city and back, and still making it all work. Giving students the opportunity to connect with others who have these shared experiences of overcoming obstacles and reaching for these ambitious goals, can create really meaningful relationships. I’m hoping that as the SSS advisor, I can foster an environment where students can make these connections with each other.
Ideally, what do you want SSS to be for students?
I want SSS to be a place where students can find belonging and connection. I hope that this program and office can become a place where students feel safe, welcomed, and supported at any time. Additionally, I want students to feel that this program is here to serve them and give them the tools and resources they need to be successful. As the SSS advisor, I am really interested in learning what it is that students want and need. My door is always open to any student who wants to talk, and I am always open to feedback on how we can do better.
When you’re not working, what are some hobbies that you enjoy?
I have always loved stories and storytelling, so I love going to the movies and theater. My partner and I are involved with a theater company, “Hit the Lights,” which is a semi shadow-puppet, musical, grassroots collective whose tag line is “Less Talk, More Rock.” Spending time working on shows with them is wonderful and inspiring; I love watching how a story is formed from the imaginations of awesome people.
What’s one important cause you stand behind?
I have always felt strongly about standing behind Planned Parenthood. I believe that having access to safe, affordable health care and education is essential and Planned Parenthood provides that to over 2.7 million women, men and young people. One quote that I love from Wendy Davis is, “It’s about trusting women to make good decisions for themselves and empowering them with the tools to do that.” That is what Planned Parenthood does, it trusts women and gives us the tools to make good decisions for ourselves – and to me, that’s everything.
Thanks, Colleen! The ladies of Her Campus Pace look forward to collaborating with SSS in the future!