Emma Kinney, a 2016 Bethany graduate, is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University in East Lansing Michigan.
WHAT YOU DO • • • I am a scholar of organizational communication in a program that specializes in quantitative research methods. Beyond my research and coursework, I also have the privilege of teaching Business Communication to sophomores in Michigan State’s Eli Broad College of Business.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU • • • For most working adults, workplace communication is an essential component of job success and personal satisfaction. There is a wealth of research and resources dedicated to the improvement of workplace communication, but rarely does it reach the individuals who need it the most. The opportunity to bridge that gap by taking the knowledge I am gaining through graduate studies into the workplace post graduation motivates and inspires me to make the most of the graduate programs I am currently a part of.
HOW BETHANY HAS PREPARED YOU • • • Being a Christian at a large state university can be challenging, but the academic and spiritual foundations I built at Bethany prepared me more than I realized. Any success that I’ve had after Bethany can and should be credited to the incredible faculty who took the time and energy to work with me while I was there, encourage my faith, and prepare me for life post graduation.
WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT BETHANY • • • The opportunities. Whether it was academics, sports, arts, or leadership, there was always an opportunity to get involved. Those opportunities not only made my college experience more interesting, but also made me a more well-rounded individual and helped me get into my first choice of graduate programs.
ADVICE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS • • • Embrace your time at Bethany. It is so easy to count down the days until Christmas break or summer or graduation, but doing so makes it harder to enjoy the little things. It’s great to be excited about the things to come and yes, you’ll be a Viking forever, but you won’t always be on campus. So enjoy it.