You may have seen Amanda next to her big ol’ prize wheel, red shirt on, bowl of candy out, a welcoming smile covering her face. The new undergraduate recruitment coordinator for the School of Natural Resources, in many ways Amanda Bergeron-Bauer is the public face of SNR, a role she’s excited to fill.
Bergeron-Bauer’s experiences at UNL began during her youth in Lincoln and continued throughout her undergraduate studies as she received a BA in communication studies. After graduating from UNL, she took a job as the recruitment and retention coordinator in UNL’s Office of Graduate Studies. Simultaneously, Bergeron-Bauer worked on her masters in Educational Psychology.
“I got really lucky that my work in the Office of Graduate Studies helped me to do my masters,” explained Bergeron-Bauer. “In my master’s program, I focused on how people learn. Studying the cognitive side of learning prepared me for communicating with students.”
As Bergeron-Bauer finished her masters, she heard about the recruitment position in the SNR. “What was really appealing about this job was getting to work with undergrads. I had heard great things about SNR and CASNR, so everything combined to make it a really great fit for me.”
Hired onto SNR’s team in December, Bergeron-Bauer spends a lot of her time trying to expand the SNR programs that need expanding. She will frequently be attending events around the University and the state, trying to meet with potential students and tell them about the fascinating programs available through the SNR. “A lot of students are interested in the areas that SNR covers, but they don’t always know about us.” Bergeron-Bauer seeks to change that fact.
Armed with her prize wheel—a Wheel-Of-Fortune style spinner that features images reflective of SNR’s undergraduate majors—Amanda inspires interest in SNR studies via fascinating trivia games and discussions of the various career paths open to students in the SNR. “We do so many great things,” said Bergeron-Bauer, “I want to help bring in more students.”
Look for Amanda Bergeron-Bauer and her prize wheel this Sunday, March 3 during the Big Red Road Show. Welcome her to the school, answer some trivia, and learn more about the great opportunities available to undergraduates in the School of Natural Resources. And remember: you can always follow her on twitter (@UNLSNR) to stay up to date with the goings-on in the school.