From the President
Graduation to the Real World, in 30 Days A
Fresh out of school, Kayla Potter quickly learned the meaning of her degree
n email came to my atention recently that is an excellent example of how Eastern prepares our students to contribute
to society and make a difference in the lives of others. It also serves as testament to the high quality and excellent faculty we have at Eastern. Te inspiring email was from former student, Kayla Poter,
who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work last September. Following graduation, Kayla moved to St. Louis and now serves with the Americorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team. As part of her assignment, Kayla and her Americorps team
were dispatched to Joplin, Missouri on the evening of May 22 aſter a series of devastating tornadoes destroyed large sections of the city. More than 150 people were killed. Kayla was contacted at 7 p.m. the night the tornadoes
struck and was en route to Joplin with other team members a few hours later. Traveling overnight, she arrived at 6 a.m. and began immediately working with her team to coordinate volunteer relief efforts. Kayla was assigned to help develop a volunteer reception
center at Missouri Southern State University. Tere was a massive influx of people wanting and needing to help any way they could. In less than 16 hours, Kayla’s team collected an estimated 3,000 volunteer intake forms. As the first day following the tornadoes progressed, team
members worked into different roles. A computer room was established so that the volunteer intake forms could be entered into a database. By Tuesday morning, Kayla was in charge of developing and running the volunteer intake/donations call center with another member. Kayla worked 15 straight long days, before her first day off
on June 6. She is still in Joplin and expects her assignment will continue for quite some time, given the scope of the destruction and rebuilding effort. When asked about how she is coping with the intense and
emotional demands of the work, she looks to her experience at Eastern. She emphasizes the strength of the School of Social Work, and particularly how two professors, Elizabeth Schuster and Marti Bombyk, made a difference for her.
office_of_the_president@emich.edu
More than 11,000 volunteers have descended on Joplin, Mo., since tornadoes destroyed much of the city on May 22.
with an appreciation for the training the School of Social Work and you have given me. I wouldn’t have been here without that.” Kayla is an example of a young woman making a difference.
She is an example of what Eastern brings to students every day, and what our graduates bring to organizations and business in Michigan and across the country. Tere are thousands of people like Kayla in this world, thanks
to Eastern and talented faculty such as Professors Schuster and Bombyk. We are connecting the dots between education and jobs, and making a difference in our communities. I want to thank Kayla for taking the time, in her busy life, to
say thanks. It is wonderful to hear from alumni, and to be able to share their successes with you.
In her email to the professors, Kayla wrote: “I’m thanking you
because without your classes and your willingness to work with and build a relationship with me as your student (for Honors and thesis work), I feel I would not have been able to do what I’m doing. You two and the rest of the School have given me tools to help develop a culture of empathy, positivity, and eagerness to help volunteers within this small area.” She added, “I’ve seen such an outpouring of love and goodwill toward this community. I wanted to pass that on to you, along
Eastern | SUMMER 2011 5
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