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By Vince Frieden, Associate Director of Development Communications
At the October 2012 Armstrong Student Center Topping Out ceremony, Miami University President David Hodge introduced Katie Wilson as the inaugural director of the Armstrong Student Center.
Wilson, who earned her master’s in educational leadership from Miami, began her second stint at the University in 2009 as the senior director of student engagement. In that role, she supervised the staff, budget and services of the office of student activities and leadership and the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
She previously spent five years as the director of student activities at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she played a role in the transition to UNLV’s new student union in 2007.
Q: What appealed to you about being director of the Armstrong Student Center?
A: The position is unique in that it combines student engagement with a business aspect, and I found that appealing. Longer-term, I appreciate that the Armstrong Student Center is going to continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of Miami students. I like that it will continue to present new challenges and opportunities.
Q: What do you view as the most unique challenge or opportunity ahead of you?
A: It’s an interesting challenge, because I’m the director, but by nature, the Armstrong Student Center will be very much student-run. I will be working very closely with students on policy and procedural decisions while also preparing students to implement events, provide good customer service and essentially run the Center.
Q: With the building opening less than a year away, what are you working on now?
A: My priority right now is assembling a student advisory board for the Armstrong Student Center. This board is going to play a critical role in determining everything from planning the grand opening event to room reservation policies, the allocation of student organization offices and what services the Center will provide. The advisory board members will also be ambassadors to their fellow students as well as alumni and the community.
Q: How else will students be involved in the Armstrong Student Center?
A: This is too big of a job for a director and the student advisory board, and we’re hoping to involve as many students as possible. Students from Campus Activity Council, Program Board and AfterDark are already starting to plan programming and events. There will also be a number of students employed within the Center, and we see this as a real opportunity to give ownership and teach leadership. The more students we involve, the more excitement we’ll build across campus.
Q: What’s it like watching the construction progress on the Armstrong Student Center as you come into work each morning?
A: I can’t wait to get in there. There’s a lot of work still to be done, but it’s going to be a super high-energy place with a great mix of relaxed/informal seating and engaging events taking place. It will be so exciting to be in the midst of all that activity and energy.