Meet Fellow APA Member: Jill Black
Editor’s Note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and conciseness.
First, tell us a bit about your role on campus.
I’m an Operations Coordinator in IPF Custodial Services. My position has evolved over the years, but my current responsibilities involve hiring students and on-call employees; getting them processed through the system; scheduling their training; assigning them to buildings and supervisors; and following up on any issues that arise during that process. I also place supply orders daily for all buildings maintained by IPF and then reconcile them once delivered.
How long have you worked at MSU? Have you been a member of the APA the whole time?
October 2026 will mark my 25th year on campus. I was originally a member of the CT Union and joined the APA when I transitioned to IPF.
What originally brought you to your job at MSU?
I needed BCBS insurance and wasn’t concerned about where I worked. It was also conveniently located near where I was living at the time. I was able to get a full-time position as an Office Assistant in the Math Department.
What do you most enjoy about working here?
Honestly? The benefits (retirement, health insurance, etc.). The relationships that I have been able to forge with a variety of people over the years have been invaluable, too.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I’m always at work, just not at MSU. I have multiple second jobs; my summer softball and baseball scorekeeping for Delta Township and Lansing Parks and Rec funds my school supply purchases (more on that below). The income I earn from working athletic events, elections, college basketball, and youth sports allows me to travel abroad. I have traveled to Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Spain, France, Andorra, and Liechtenstein, with brief stops in Portugal and Turkey.
What were you known for in high school?
I always had my nose in a book. I was a scorekeeper on the varsity baseball team, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to have multiple books going when we traveled back and forth to games. The books didn’t matter; I prefer historical books, especially on WWII, but I’ve also read the classics. A couple years ago I found a list of “100 Books to Read Before You Die” and I’ve been working on that list. Some of them (like Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, A Tale of Two Cities, and the Harry Potter series) are on the banned book list, so I made sure to read them before they became too hard to find in a library.
Fun fact: I looked at 42 houses when I was trying to find my home, and house #43 had a built-in bookshelf along a wall. That was what convinced me I’d found the right spot!
What skill do you have that might surprise others?
Baking cookies. At the first and last games of MSU’s football season, I bring in cookies for my customer service crew and the office staff. I have modified some recipes to accommodate people who are gluten-free.
I’m also skilled in conducting research. I majored in Criminal Justice and briefly worked with a private investigative company, which has since dissolved. My most memorable case involved a bachelorette party, Chippendales show at Soaring Eagle, and a lonely country road.
Do you have any pets?
My crazy lifestyle wouldn’t be fair to a pet. In the summer it’s not uncommon for me to get home after 10:00 p.m., 5 days a week. There always seems to be a hocky or football game on the weekend!
What kind of music do you enjoy?
My friend is really into Taylor Swift, so that’s the only music we listen to when we’re in her car. I try to keep my options open and listen to a variety of music, though. I grew up on country music, but the 80’s hairband music never goes out of style, so if I can’t find anything I like I’ll turn to that station. I enjoyed the Superbowl performer this year, so I may try to work some Latin music into my playlist!
As Jill noted above, money she earns from her baseball and softball scorekeeping goes toward buying school supplies for first-year teachers across Michigan—an act of service she’s kept up for fifteen years. Each fall she randomly picks a location, reaches out to school principals in the county for names of first-year teachers, and then draws a name. Jill reaches out to the selected teacher to request a 50-item wish list. What started out as a small donation has evolved into a $1,700+ mountain of school supplies that she and her mother deliver to the lucky recipient. Click below to learn more and to support Jill’s GoFundMe page to support future teachers.
Please see video below that is from WILX News 10 in Lansing Michigan.
We welcome submissions from members interested in sharing their experiences as well as nominations of fellow APA members to highlight. E-mail us at kcp@msu.edu
Jill Black
