Who's Who 2013: Debbie Below, Vice President for enrollment management and student success, Southeast Missouri State University

Community involvement: Member of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce

What do you love about your work?

The college experience can transform lives in many positive ways. It is such a joy to see students reach their goals and to know that our efforts to support them are making a difference. I love knowing that when we work hard, when we implement new and creative student support programs, and when we make ourselves available to students in need of guidance, counseling, mentoring or support, we are helping them realize their personal and educational goals. I love hearing individual stories of student success: earning the grade they hoped to achieve, finding the right major, accepting a leadership opportunity, securing an internship in their field, or being the first in their family to graduate from college -- this is the most gratifying part of my job.

What's your No. 1 goal at work?

Student success. I believe that every student who enters college can graduate from college. My No. 1 goal is to help foster a supportive learning environment in which students can reach their educational goals. The pursuit of a college education requires a significant financial investment. It is most important to me that we do all that we can to protect that investment. Although we cannot guarantee a college degree, when students choose to pursue their college education at Southeast Missouri State University, we owe it to them to do all we can to help them be successful.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your line of work?

The routine of going to class, turning in assignments for a grade and meeting deadlines will one day have real work world applications. I would advise students who are preparing for their first professional position to look for learning experiences in the classroom and in their current part-time employment positions. I would tell them to work hard and volunteer to assist their peers and supervisors, whether their current position is a part-time or full-time job. If given the opportunity to serve on a committee or to be part of a project team, I would recommend that they treat the assignment as if they will be graded (similar to a class project). Finally, I have benefited from the mentoring of several excellent supervisors. It is important to recognize the value in modeling the best practices of those who are currently doing the job well.