Bronco Spotlight: Evan Pauken
Master of Arts, educational leadership: higher education and student affairs, 2015
Director of Student Retention and Completion at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
I collect and analyze data on student attrition trends to inform the development and guide the execution of a college-wide retention plan. I oversee a number of initiatives related to student persistence, completion and stop-out re-engagement.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
The most rewarding part is the cross-collaborative initiatives that compiled . The most challenging part is establishing both scalable and sustainable strategies to meet our goals.
What experiences impacted the choice of your career path?
My capstone helped me become more savvy in data processing and analysis. My 300 hour practicum was an experience that led me to search for a job at Kalamazoo Valley.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
Data is crucial in the work that I do. Being comfortable with analysis and evaluation as well as data collection is a necessity when determining the overall impact of a program. Try to seek experiences where this will be part of your day to day work.