The latest addition to our series of Alumni Council Q&As features Council member Casey Patterson.
Q: When did you graduate from Waynesburg University, and what was your major?
I graduated from WU in 2012. I spent most of my time on campus as an Athletic Training major, but my career goals shifted in my junior year, so I graduated as an Exercise Science major with a Psychology minor.
Q: Where has life taken you since graduating from Waynesburg?
All over! Immediately after graduating, I proposed to my wife, Kaitlin (Radigan), then moved to Massachusetts for graduate school. After finishing my master’s degree, my career started in college athletics, then shifted more generally to higher education. We had stops in Memphis, western North Carolina, San Antonio, and Oregon!
Q: What is your current job/title, and what is your current location?
Our last cross-country move in 2022 brought us back to my native West Virginia, where we’re living in my hometown, Buckhannon! I am currently the Program Director for a tech workforce training program called NewForce, which is part of a statewide nonprofit called Generation WV. As a whole, our nonprofit aims to attack the outward migration of young talent in WV -- we want to keep young people in our state by providing job training and professional development, advancing opportunity, and creating community.
Q: Can you describe your typical day?
As a remote organization, I get to work from home (or wherever I am)! Our house is busy, so I like to start my days early while the house is quiet -- a cup of coffee, some time in prayer, then catching up with the happenings around the world. As a matter of fact, I used to do this in Stover as well with a newspaper and free library coffee!
At work, my days vary greatly. Some days I spend meeting with trainees discussing career development and job searching, while other days I talk mostly with employers about the importance of skills-first hiring. I also spend quite a lot of time in grant administration: writing narrative summaries, cleaning and submitting data, collaborating on budget management, and more. Most of my days involve a healthy mix of individual tasks and collaborative work.
Q: Can you describe your time as a student at Waynesburg and how it shaped you, personally and professionally?
I loved my time at Waynesburg and it has had a profound effect on how I move about life. More than anything, my experiences on campus reinforced the importance of putting people and relationships first. The faculty and staff at WU have this same priority and it translates to incredible opportunities for students (myself included). In addition to the “regular” college experiences of living independently, going to classes, and establishing lifelong friendships, I also had the opportunity to engage in service, speak with thought-leaders, and mentor other students. I truly valued this mentorship and intentional commitment to my own and others’ development and try to embody a similar spirit in life now.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty or staff member at Waynesburg, and why?
There is no way I’m only listing one. Bryan Hamilton comes to mind, as his classes were always challenging but effective. Jenny Jellison was a favorite as well — she was always so fun and seemed genuinely happy to see you (even if you completely failed the first exam like I did). Finally, Susan Biddle was a personal favorite. Her red pen was very busy on my composition assignments, but I believe I redeemed myself during her March Madness bracket tournament (with a homemade apple pie as my reward)!
Q: What is your favorite memory as a Waynesburg student?
There are too many to list! If I had to choose one, it is probably when we went on a mission trip to Puerto Rico over winter break. The whole trip was memorable, though the part that sticks out is a significant memory for me. A major aspect of the trip was working with the family of Roberto Clemente (his wife and sons) to update a training facility in his hometown. The work was hard, but his family showed us an overwhelming amount of hospitality — they invited us into their home, shared stories and memorabilia, and even brought out a cake to help celebrate my birthday! I suspect that our faculty leader, Michelle Kabay, was behind the celebration, but the whole experience reinforced my belief in the generosity of people.
Q: Why is staying connected with the University important to you?
The growth and development people experience in young adulthood is astounding. Reflecting on my own experience, it is just so clear how well I was supported at WU during these years. In fact, my experience on campus is one of the main reasons I decided to pursue a career in higher education! I am extremely proud of the education I received at Waynesburg and, like many other alums, want to do my part to maintain and extend WU’s vibrant community.
Q: What does your role as an Alumni Council member entail, and what motivates you to give back to the University in this way?
I see my role on the Council as a “call to service”. As an alum, I feel a sense of responsibility for the continued success of the University and its students. By staying engaged with University initiatives, financial and institutional health, campus planning, and more, I can be in a position to offer my own expertise, brainstorming, or boots on the ground assistance.
Q: What advice do you have for current students? For recent graduates?
There are so many things I could say here, but generally:
- Current students: engage in those “extra” activities (guest speakers, networking events, career prep/mock interviews, etc.). They may not be graded, but I promise you they are just as important in landing a job (at least in most careers). Also, if your academic program allows the space, take an elective in something outside of your major. It’s a great way to get your brain thinking differently and to engage with new people!
- Recent graduates: find a mentor! This could be a WU faculty or staff member, an older alumni (like someone from the Alumni Council), or, if you’ve already landed a job, a higher level employee. Mentorship is a critical piece to your development as a professional and in my experience can trickle over into personal growth as well. There are also likely sponsored fellowship-style programs in your state as well, which is a great avenue for mentorship and building community with other young professionals. I’m happy to help you find something!
