Rachel Welch ’17, a student assistant in Mays Business School’s Office of the Dean for nearly five years, was chosen as the Texas A&M Student Employee of the Year.
Welch graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Honors along with a minor in tourism management and a certificate in not-for-profit management. She is pursuing a master’s in human resource management at Mays and has an internship lined up this summer with ConocoPhillips in Houston with their Leadership Development team.
As a student assistant in the Office of the Dean, Welch often serves as the first point of contact for visitors. She manages the phones and general office email account, as well as greets and assists walk-in visitors.
Welch describes the job she has held her entire undergraduate and graduate career as a source of experiential learning and professional growth. “I equate much of my growth in professional development and customer service orientation to the example set by those in the Dean’s office,” she said. “From my first year in the office, I was challenged to take initiative and make decisions.”
She has been involved in events such as the Outstanding Alumni event, Dean’s Advisory Board and Council meetings, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative. “Overall, I have learned that the standard of excellence we set in the small tasks today is the foundation for our future as professionals,” she said. “The faculty and staff in our office have shown me how to selflessly lead and serve others, and this is something I will take with me in my career.”
Two other Mays student workers – Olivia Lesar of the Department of Management and Kennedy Porter of the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship – were among the 93 nominees recognized Wednesday at a ceremony by the Texas A&M Scholarships & Financial Aid. There are 10,000 students employed across the university.
Welch has maintained a 4.0 throughout her academic career. She was assistant director of The Big Event this year, which oversees 20,000 plus students giving back to the community on the largest one-day program in the nation.
Dean Eli Jones said Welch was deserving of the honor. “Her cheerful attitude, conscientiousness, and willingness to serve are exactly the values that Mays Business School espouses, and Rachel embodies those values.”
Executive Associate Dean Duane Ireland added: “Her attitude is remarkably positive, uplifting and supportive.”
The Student Employee of the Year Award was established in 1999 by the National Student Employee Association. In this, the 20th awards ceremony, two recipients were recognized – one who works on campus and one who works off campus.
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This story originally appeared on Mays Impacts.
