Elizabeth Brown, a master’s student in Higher Education Administration, is a summer intern in the School of Graduate Studies. She handles the department’s social media and event promotions, assists in advising the Doctoral Student Council and in assessment analysis, and participates in the Graduate Writing Advisory Committee and Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program initiatives.
Her degree emphasis area is in student affairs, but she is not yet sure what she will do with her degree.
“I feel like this changes each semester,” she said. “After every class I take in the Higher Ed program, I have a new area in Higher Ed administration that I want to pursue. I have always really enjoyed policy and legislative issues that affect higher education and college students. I think it would be fun to work in a lobbying aspect for an institution.”
Elizabeth is also involved with the Higher Education Student Association, as the public relations coordinator.
“I run our social media and do event promotions,” she said. “I chose to join HESA to build relationships with other students in the program as well as to be exposed to new ideas by them. I am a very shy person and it is also a way of helping me come out of my shell a little.”
She grew up in a small town in southwest Missouri, but always wanted to live in a bigger city.
“I ultimately chose UMKC because of the diversity I saw on the campus when I went on my campus tour when I was looking at different schools,” she said. “It’s a little oasis of diversity in the Midwest, and Kansas City is an amazing city to live in!”
In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys exploring Kansas City. After four years of living here, she still finds new things to do.
“There is just always a different festival, whether it be art or music or cultural heritage, going on in a different neighborhood each weekend,” she said. “I also love trying new food and there is always a new food truck popping up somewhere in the city. One of my current favorite things to do that I have recently discovered is going to a yoga class on the lawn of the Nelson.”
Elizabeth is also a member of the Heart of America Young Democrats and the Young Democrats of Missouri.
“With these organizations, I get to attend political events and meet the people who are representing me in Jefferson City and Washington D.C. It’s also a really fun way to meet like-minded people from other colleges and universities in the country,” she said. “I am also occasionally involved with the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus … which is a great way to meet strong, independent women from so many different walks of life.”