by Jessilyn Rich

What is your position at the college?
Associate Professor of Business

Have you always wanted to teach? If so, what inspired you? If not, what made you change your mind?

As a little girl, I wanted to be a motivational speaker. I loved watching inspirational speakers and hoped to one day be one. I am so grateful I was able to fulfill that dream, Yet as I grew my speaking career I began to be pulled towards teaching. I loved being a keynote speaker but I usually only interacted with an audience once. There did not seem to be a lasting impact. With teaching, I’m able to connect with students
over the course of one or more semesters.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?
Seeing the potential students have but watching them not use it. I can challenge them and offer help but students have to choose it. It is so hard to watch students not take advantage of the opportunities they have here.

What part of your job is your favorite?
Watching students dig in and overcome challenges. It is so rewarding to watch students come in, work hard, ask for help and they go out in the world and do their thing!

What is your best advice you have for a students success in college?
Ask for help! We are all here to help. There are so many resources available.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
My grandma always told me “It’s not where you start it’s where you end up that matters!” She encouraged me to focus on where I wanted to go, what I wanted my life to look like.

What are a couple things on your bucket list that you hope to do in the future?
Sky dive, give a talk on the Ted mainstage, spend a month in Italy

What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of work?

Reading, hiking, cooking, swimming and being with my grand girls

What is something we would never guess about you?
I am an introvert!

Top 3 favorite books of all time?
This is a tough one – there are SO many. The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield +
Mark Victor Hanson – this book helped me focus on and go after my dreams years ago The eMyth by Michael Gerber – this book changed how I operated my business
A Gift from the Sea by Anne Moreau Lindbergh – Hey Girlfriend! Live Pas-
sionately Real by me

***This may not be the best book ever writ-
ten but I had a dream to write a book and did it at 25. Now I need to write a business book

Top 3 favorite movies of all time?
Liar Liar!
Top Gun
Grease

If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead who would it be?
Zig Ziglar

Is there anything else you would like students to know about you?

I love what I do and I passionately believe in this college. SMCC is a great place. I am proud to work here and plan to be here for a long time.