Staff: Colleen Roland
If you’re looking for Colleen Roland around noon each day, you won’t find her in her office in East Carolina University’s Graduate School. But be patient. When she gets back to her office in Ragsdale from her daily exercise class in the Eakin Student Recreation Center, she’ll be energized and ready to help with any number of problems or questions.
“I like it. It’s the only thing that I do entirely for me. I don’t have to include anyone else,” Roland said of the exercise class. “We have wonderful student instructors, and they do a great job. I really enjoy it. It gives me some time to check out, follow someone else’s lead and not have to think.”
Roland works as a student services specialist in ECU’s Graduate School. In her role, she works with students on a variety of requests such as changing programs or adding certifications. She also reviews academic performance and helps resolve any issues.
“I like working with the students,” she said. “A lot of times when I’m working with students it’s more so because they’re having problems. I get to help them figure out their problems and find the best solution for them. It’s fulfilling to find a solution that helps and makes things better for the student.”
She said the people she works with and meets make her job fun and keep it interesting.
Colleen Roland receives ECU’s Staff Award for Achievement in International Service from Chancellor Philip Rogers, right, and Dr. Jon Rezek, assistant vice chancellor of global affairs. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
“We’ve always had a kind of family relationship in this office, even with all the transitions over the years,” she said. “I also get to communicate with the programs a lot, so I get to know a wide variety of people on campus and work with a lot of good people.”
Perhaps her most important role involves international students. Roland works to get international students who have been admitted to ECU their visas so they can travel to the United States. That, of course, has been a problem with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colleen Roland works on a computer in her office. She has worked at ECU for nearly 26 years. (Photo by Rhett Butler)
“We had so many that were admitted but couldn’t get their visas due to different issues —embassy closures, travel bans or other reasons — which resulted in many students having to defer admission to a later term,” Roland said. “I was talking to a student the other day. His wife is currently attending, and he’s been trying to get admitted for a couple of years. He has faced many challenges but is finally going to be able to attend this spring.”
She said she enjoys hearing students talk about their home countries and cultures.
“I try to imagine going to another country and having just the basics of the language but not knowing any of the customs or day-to-day activities, just landing there and having to adapt,” she said. “I applaud them for making that effort.”
For her work, Roland received ECU’s Staff Award for Achievement in International Service in November. She was nominated by Kathy Cox, associate dean of the grad school, Bill Mallett, assistant director of international student advisement in the Office of Global Affairs, and Paul Gemperline, dean of the graduate school.
“I was really thrilled to be nominated and pleased that they think what I do should be nominated for an award,” Roland said. “It means a lot to me knowing that my efforts are appreciated.”
Roland has been married to husband Wesley for 17 years. They have two children, Hannah, 15, and Parker, 13. She enjoys her family time, especially watching her children’s sporting events, and also likes running, snow skiing and spending time on the water. She’s worked at ECU since 1996.
“In the first year and half, I worked in medical records in the Brody School of Medicine, and we had to physically carry the charts all over the place. It was a great way to stay in shape and learn the layout of the hospital,” she said. “Other than that, I’ve been in the graduate school, and it’s been wonderful.”
She joined the graduate school staff in 1998, and in her more than 20 years has worked as a receptionist, application processor and manager, roles that she says help her in her current position.
“It gives me a great understanding of the graduate school’s role from start to finish,” she said. “I do have a very broad view of the process, from beginning to end, and I think that gives me a leg up.”
All those job duties also give her a perspective on why students should choose to attend grad school at ECU.
“We have a wide variety of programs,” Roland said. “We have a lot of really talented faculty who care about the students and want them to succeed. We have a great family and community atmosphere at ECU. Students don’t get lost here. The people care about the students, and I think that means a lot and it helps the students to succeed.”
What advice do you give to students? I advise students to seek help when they have questions or concerns. Don’t assume the answer will be “no” or that nothing can be done to help a situation.
FAST FACTS
Name: Colleen Roland
Title: Student services specialist
Hometown: Bear Grass
Colleges attended and degrees: Martin Community College, Associate of Arts in liberal arts; Pitt Community College, certificate in cosmetology
PIRATE PRIDE
Years working at ECU: It will be 26 years on Jan. 15.
What I do at ECU: When I began with the graduate school in 1998, I worked on the admission side of things, processing applications and assisting potential students. In 2007, my job expanded to include residency determination for tuition purposes and coordinating the daily activities of the graduate school staff, and I became a designated service officer responsible for preparation of Immigration and Naturalization Service documents to allow international students to apply for visas to enter the U.S. for educational purposes. Over the next few years, I transitioned out of the application side of things and began working with enrolled students. Today I continue to represent graduate international students, providing support along with issuing I-20s (certificate of eligibility form), and I also work with enrolled students, reviewing academic standing, exception requests and helping both programs and students when there are issues.
What I love about ECU: I love that ECU is like a second family, at least my experience in the graduate school has always felt that way. People support others through the good and the bad, always ready to offer a helping hand. I see this extended to faculty, staff and students. Everyone works for the greater good.
QUICK QUIZ
What do you like to do when not working? I enjoy running, snow skiing, being on the water either on a boat or at the beach, reading and watching my children’s sporting events.
Last thing I watched on TV: “New Amsterdam,” “Bull” and “A Million Little Things”
First job: Cashier at Winn-Dixie
Guilty pleasure: Noon exercise classes at the recreation center. I arrange my days around them and try not to let anything interfere.
Favorite meal: Chicken and pastry, squash and cabbage
One thing most people don’t know about me: I was a hair stylist for two years prior to working for ECU.