Welcome to the #DragonFamily: Erika Beseler Thompson
Meet MSUM’s new Academic Support Center director, Erika Beseler Thompson.
She is looking forward to helping students continue to make progress toward their goals and support advising efforts across the university.
Start date: January 2, 2020
Q: What drew you to MSUM?
A: During my interview, I valued the fact that I would be a part of a team with a common purpose; that aspect made MSUM feel like home for me. I was inspired to see how there was a whole group of people who all wanted to achieve the same thing: to focus on students and helping them succeed.
Q: What is one thing that surprised you about MSUM?
A: The campus is so beautifully designed. I love the way the academic core surrounds the campus mall and how easy it is to navigate around campus. The university feels like it was intentionally designed for connection, and that is something that positively stood out to me!
Q: What experience or skills for your last job do you bring to MSUM?
A: In my last position, I worked with students who were pursuing their doctoral and their master’s degrees. I was able to give counsel in ways that would support their aspiration to be able to contribute to knowledge in a way that was meaningful and well-informed. I believe I’ve brought the understanding of how students can achieve their goals even if they don’t see the whole picture.
Q: What energizes you outside of work?
A: I would say one of the things that energizes me is physical activity. I’m an avid cyclist, so having a long bike ride ahead of me gives me clarity and the energy I need to go about each day!
Q: If you were to trade places with someone for a day, who would it be?
A: I think it would be cool to be an astronaut for a day! You could see whole world, but you wouldn’t have to live up there forever. Having a day to experience what it would be like to experience weightlessness and look down on the world and be in space would be incredible. I don’t have any aspirations to be an astronaut, but I think that’d be pretty neat.
We’re glad you joined the #DragonFamily, Erika!