'We will be moving forward, not standing still'
New director of MUC values student input
Lindsay Stuart
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: News
The Morris University Center has a new director at the wheel, and he already has plans in mind for the upcoming year.
Joseph Pearson, who took over after former MUC Director Mary Robinson retired in June, said there were a lot of positive incentives for taking the job.
"I had been looking for an opportunity to come to a more traditional campus," Pearson said.
Pearson previously worked at Louisiana State in Shreveport as the university center director. The university had an average enrollment of about 4,500 students.
"I was overall student activity and wellness, so it was a little different from here," Pearson said. "It was a smaller campus and a smaller school."
Pearson graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor's in political science and received his master's in public administration from Idaho State University before moving to Louisiana.
Pearson said there were many things that drew him to SIUE.
"There were many positive incentives (like) the job opportunities, the opportunity to impact student life and the opportunity for my family to move to a small town," Pearson said.
Pearson said it is important to him that students feel they are getting their money's worth, so he is excited about the changes the upcoming year will bring to the MUC, such as the remodeling of the Bookstore and the opening of the Student Success Center.
"It is important for us that the students' needs are met and that they feel this is their building," Pearson said.
Pearson said he greatly values student input and welcomes students to give their opinions.
"I always encourage students to get involved in the decision making process of this building," Pearson said. "I'm always looking for their input. I like to think it wasn't too long ago that I was a student myself."
Debbie Goestenkors, who works with Pearson in the MUC business office, said Pearson likes to work with people.
"He is very personable," Goestenkors said. "He seems to have a very caring attitude. He seems very family and student oriented."
Jim McDermott, the business manager in the MUC, also enjoys working with Pearson.
"It puts me in a high mood," McDermott said. "I'm looking forward to this year and doing new and different things. He's bringing new experiences to the table that we haven't had before. We will be moving forward, not standing still."
Pearson is also looking forward to the changes the coming year will bring.
"The biggest goal is to continue the legacy of the previous director," Pearson said. "We are going to implement the plans that were previously made and do them to the best of our ability."
Joseph Pearson, who took over after former MUC Director Mary Robinson retired in June, said there were a lot of positive incentives for taking the job.
"I had been looking for an opportunity to come to a more traditional campus," Pearson said.
Pearson previously worked at Louisiana State in Shreveport as the university center director. The university had an average enrollment of about 4,500 students.
"I was overall student activity and wellness, so it was a little different from here," Pearson said. "It was a smaller campus and a smaller school."
Pearson graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor's in political science and received his master's in public administration from Idaho State University before moving to Louisiana.
Pearson said there were many things that drew him to SIUE.
"There were many positive incentives (like) the job opportunities, the opportunity to impact student life and the opportunity for my family to move to a small town," Pearson said.
Pearson said it is important to him that students feel they are getting their money's worth, so he is excited about the changes the upcoming year will bring to the MUC, such as the remodeling of the Bookstore and the opening of the Student Success Center.
"It is important for us that the students' needs are met and that they feel this is their building," Pearson said.
Pearson said he greatly values student input and welcomes students to give their opinions.
"I always encourage students to get involved in the decision making process of this building," Pearson said. "I'm always looking for their input. I like to think it wasn't too long ago that I was a student myself."
Debbie Goestenkors, who works with Pearson in the MUC business office, said Pearson likes to work with people.
"He is very personable," Goestenkors said. "He seems to have a very caring attitude. He seems very family and student oriented."
Jim McDermott, the business manager in the MUC, also enjoys working with Pearson.
"It puts me in a high mood," McDermott said. "I'm looking forward to this year and doing new and different things. He's bringing new experiences to the table that we haven't had before. We will be moving forward, not standing still."
Pearson is also looking forward to the changes the coming year will bring.
"The biggest goal is to continue the legacy of the previous director," Pearson said. "We are going to implement the plans that were previously made and do them to the best of our ability."
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