Your Fellow APAs

Interview with APA member Christina Swick
Executive Assistant, Dean’s Office  |  MSU College of Human Medicine

How long have you been at MSU?
I have been with MSU for over 11 years now total.  I left the University for a brief period in 2008-09 when I relocated out of state and was fortunate enough to obtain a new position at MSU when I returned last year.

Have you been a member of APA the whole time?
I have been an AP for almost 4 years.  I was originally hired in a part-time CT position that later expanded, and I spent many years as a full-time CT employee before transitioning to an AP position.  I have held five different positions during my career at MSU, including my current one as an Executive Secretary in the Dean’s Office at the College of Human Medicine.

Can you tell me a little bit about what you do?
This is always the toughest question for me because every day is unique and I wear many different hats.  My primary purpose is to provide administrative support with the operational activities of the Grand Rapids campus.  This includes human resources, security, information technology, facilities, and communications.  I jokingly tell people that I herd cats for a living — in reference to all of the various people I work with and how challenging it can be trying to support these busy individuals.

What brought you to your job at MSU?
I have considered myself a Spartan for as long as I can remember.  I grew up in East Lansing near campus and took a lot of bike rides to the MSU Dairy Store or to feed the tadpoles in the pond at the Horticulture Gardens when I was young.  My dad had a long career at MSU and my mother worked here a few years as well.  After graduating from East Lansing High School it was a natural choice for me to work at MSU and to continue my education at State as well.

What do you love about working at MSU?
I love that MSU has always supported my continuing education.  My supervisors have always been understanding of my class schedules and encouraged me to keep at it.  It took me eight years to get my Associates and Bachelor’s degrees while working full-time but it was worth it.  I am currently enrolled in an MS program at Grand Valley State University.

Can you tell me a little about the benefits and challenges of working at MSU’s Grand Rapids campus?
Grand Rapids is a really exciting place to live and work.  There is such an atmosphere of philanthropy here and it’s nice to feel the outpouring of support from the community and know how invested they are in the success of our College.  There are also so many great events we are able to participate in; for example we served as a venue for two ArtPrize exhibits this year.  The biggest challenge for me was (and still is) adjusting to a more formal working atmosphere.  I was accustomed to a certain kind of dress, casual communication style, and a more informal way of doing business when I worked in East Lansing.  Here it is more of a corporate environment and the expectations are a little different.

What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I enjoy taking my dog Watson for long walks and going up north to visit family on the weekends.  My mom, grandparents, aunts, uncles and I will go fishing together or go to farmer’s markets, grill out, play euchre, etc.  Even though I like living in Grand Rapids, I’m a country girl at heart.  There is something to be said for being able to go outside in your pajamas in the morning and not having to worry about your neighbors!