by Jessilyn Rich

What is your position at the college?
TRIO Student Support Services Advisor
TRIO is a federally funded grant focused on personalized advising to help students meet their goals.

What part of your job do you find most challenging?
My tendency is to want to find solutions to solve everyone’s issues or problems. That’s not possible. Additionally, it’s better to help students find their own solutions. Knowing when to pull back and just listen is hard for me.

What part of your job is your favorite?
Working with the students and getting to know them. Some of our students have faced such great challenges and yet, they persist. They are all amazing people. I learn so much from them.

What is the best advice you have for student success in college?
Definitely reach out for support. There are a lot of resources available. Ask questions and advocate for yourself. This is your college education. Get absolutely everything you can out of it.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
“You won’t know until you try.” So try!

What are a couple things on your bucket list that you hope to do in the future?
I want to visit Egypt and see the ancient sites. Go see and walk the Wall of China.

What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of work?
Going out dancing, I love to dance; volunteering; listening to crime podcasts.

What is something we would never guess about you?
When I was 20 years old, I managed an abattoir in RI. It paid well and I was saving for college. You should Google the word abattoir.

A few just for fun questions:
Top 3 favorite books of all time?
I can’t choose….

What is your favorite Ice cream flavor?
French Vanilla
Is there anything else you would like students to know about you?
The door is always open at TRIO!