Alumni Spotlight - Nicki Rowlett, Class of 2008

Nicki Rowlett Alumni spotlight 1When did you attend Lamphere? What year did you graduate? 
I attended Lamphere from 2004 - 2008 (Graduated June 2008).

From June 2008 - May 2013 I attended Central Michigan University where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Communication, Event Management, and Leadership. From August 2013 - May 2015 I attended Ball State University where I received my Masters in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education and a certificate in College and University Teaching. 


Where do you live now? Decatur, IL 


Nicki Rowlett Alumni Spotlight 2Tell us about what you've been doing since graduation):
Though sometimes I feel like I graduated eons ago, it was only 9 years back that I flipped my tassel and graduated from Lamphere. Since then, I have obtained two degrees that has served as a pipeline for the current work that I do in higher education. I work at Millikin University (small private college in the central part of Illinois) as the Assistant Director of Inclusion and Student Engagement. As the Assistant Director, I am responsible for the oversight of fraternity and sorority life, identity-based student organizations, and cultural awareness programming. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member in the fall semester, where I teach a freshmen seminar class on leadership theory. Prior to coming to Millikin, I worked at Arizona State University and Emory (in addition to Central Michigan University and Ball State University where I obtained my degrees). 


Nicki Rowlett Alumni Spotlight 3I like to remain actively involved in my local community and within professional associations. Within Big Brothers Big Sisters, I serve as a mentor to a local high school student in the Decatur community. I also spend a considerable amount of time in various volunteer roles within the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors. In these roles I help manage volunteers, review educational programs for conferences, and plan regional conferences. Volunteering has always been important to me, and I continue to spend my time giving back to the things that matter to me. 

I don't travel much outside of the U.S., but I did go on a pretty nifty family vacation last year to Mexico. In the states, I travel about 15 times a year to facilitate and present at various leadership conferences and workshops. 


Nicki Rowlett Alumni Spotlight 4Tell us about your family and/or hobbies:
Hobbies include window shopping, re-purposing furniture, blogging, and facilitating leadership workshops. I love people watching, trying new beer, and cooking. My friends are spread throughout the country due to the large amount of traveling I did during college, so I tend to spend a lot of time visiting or skyping with them. Like any awesome person in this world, I enjoy the occasional binge watching of Netflix and a gallon of ice cream in one sitting. 


My immediate family has expanded since I graduated from Lamphere. Just last year, my younger sister Jackie got married to Ryan. Ryan is now my brother (and has basically been since they met five years ago) so that makes 5 of us! You’re probably wondering when I will get married - your guess is as good as mine. 


Nicki Rowlett Alumni Spotlight 5How did your years at Lamphere affect your life?

Being a student at Lamphere helped me find my sense of identity. Living my "teen years" with caring and accountable people by my side allowed me to develop into the person I am today. Developing a true sense of self was something I learned during my years at Lamphere and continues to resonate with me today as a young adult. 

Being involved in many things, I was also able to develop a sense of confidence as a young person. My confidence allowed me to define myself by my experiences and characteristics, rather than titles or "groups". This has allowed me to contribute to things in a unique, authentic, and approachable way. 

And finally, my years at Lamphere taught me that failure is not an end result, but rather the prime time for a U turn. Making mistakes has been a pivotal part of my growth and I continue to be grateful for my learning experiences during my time at Lamphere. 

STAY WOKE. Politics matter. Elections matter. Your voice matters. Your participation in your community matters. Political freedoms, human rights, and systemic issues are things that affect ALL of us. Being educated is about more than having a college degree, it's about life experiences. Contrary to popular belief, there is such thing as a stupid question. If you don't know something - read. Your status or positional power is not an excuse to claim ignorance. 

Pop culture is full of extremes, practice moderation. In a world where everyone is trying to be someone else, find your own sense of purpose and belonging. Base your actions off of values and your lived experiences, not trends or fads. Figure out the things that matter to you and fill your life with those things. Make new friends, keep your family close, and don't compromise yourself or others. Don't talk ISH about other people, even if you "hate" them. Place and time matter. Your intentions will rarely change the impact your actions have on another person. 

Nicki Rowlett Alumni Spotlight 6You will constantly be referred to as a "millennial" - OWN IT. Don't be lazy, be accountable, and put forth your best effort 101% of the time. The hardest is always found in the easiest. Learn from your mistakes, be willing to teach others and always invest in yourself. Don't try to "one-up" other people around you. The only person you are really every competing against is yourself. Happiness is not based on external status - it is an internal state. 

Personal brand is really important in today's society. Don't feel like you need to be labeled - choose your own path and your own identity. Practice consistency in what you present and preach. Who you are is a reflection of who you hang out with, what you stand up for, and what you spend your free time doing (or not doing). Your actions will always tower over your words. As you get older, decisions will be harder; there will ALWAYS be a grey area. Form your own opinion and make choices that align with your values (regardless of if it is the "popular one"). Pick and choose your battles; don't go down swinging for everything. Life is a theater, choose your audience carefully. 

Everything in life revolves around the three P's: Perception, Priorities, and Personal Satisfaction. When you find yourself working through a situation, or trying to figure out the "why" or "how" of something, think back to these three: Perception, Priorities, and Personal Satisfaction. 

Oh, and it doesn't matter that you are popular in high school.