Learn more about Rachel

Hometown: Byron Center, Michigan.

What did you do prior to Hanover? Served as Director of Recruitment at DePauw University, and previously in admission at Saint Mary’s College.

What do you love about Hanover? What a beautiful place with wonderful people and incredible outcomes! The academics are rigorous, robust and interdisciplinary so that you are not only prepared for a career in your area of interest, but you have a skill set in writing, speaking and critical thinking that appeals to employers as well as graduate schools. You don’t come here simply for a degree, but to enjoy a well-rounded education, learn about yourself and the world around you, and grow in ways you never thought possible while making lifelong friends among your peers but also faculty and staff you meet.

What’s your favorite place on campus or in Madison? The Science Center has an amazing collection of artifacts throughout the entire building. But of course, The Point and views of the river along the edge of campus are amazing. The live music scene is exciting. I enjoy concerts in the park and smaller performances by the fountain or at the local wineries. The riverfront in Madison is beautiful.

What are some of your interests, and what sort of things keep you busy? I enjoy being active so hiking the trails and expansive campus make that easy, as does the beautiful town of Madison. As a musician myself, I’m drawn to the concerts on campus and downtown. I could lose myself in a bookstore and the Village Lights Bookstore has a great collection as well as lots of nooks and crannies to bury my head in a book. As an “old soul” I love digging through the many antique shops in town.

What’s your pump-up song? Do I have to choose just one song?! Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing, U2’s She Moves in Mysterious Ways, and Cranberries’ Analyze, and Queen’s We Are the Champions.

Is there anything that you’ve always wanted to do but never have? Ride a zip line!

If you could visit one place in the world, where would it be–and why? The Scottish Highlands. That is part of my background and I would love to see its wild, rugged beauty.

What’s something that your coworkers might not know about you? I love to knit!

What advice would you give to students who are navigating the college search process? Take time to get to know yourself – what do you enjoy doing and learning, how do you feel you learn best, what kind of environment is the most compatible to your learning style, and how do you want to engage while you’re in college? You have countless options so think through what would be a good match for you as a student and person, then VISIT a variety of schools to see what fits the best. Talk to people at those schools – admission staff, yes, but also students, faculty and staff. Do your homework!

Education

B.M. in Music Performance, Saint Mary’s College