Michelle Carlson '04
Assistant Director of Admission
Coordinator, Scot Ambassador Program
309-457-2135
AOL screen name:  ACMC2005
mmcarlson@monm.edu

Hometown: Galesburg, IL

Education: B.A., Double major in Business Administration and Public Relations, Monmouth College, 2004.

Territory:  Warren and Henderson counties in Illinois; also all states east of the Mississippi.

Personal Reflections:

As a prospective student:
When it came time to start searching for a home away from home, there was nothing wrong with other colleges, it was just everything was right when it came to Monmouth College! From the first time I stepped foot on campus until today, I’ve felt a sense of belonging.

What caught my eye from the beginning? It’s a list of things: the way I was called by name throughout my whole campus visit, how everyone smiled and waved at me as I passed by, the physical beauty of campus, the relationship between the college and the town of Monmouth, the meaning of Liberal Arts, the amount of opportunities on campus, the rich history, the people in general (faculty, staff, students), the personal notes I received in the mail...I could go on and on.

As a student:
Monmouth College really encouraged me to find out who I really was and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. The classes were (and still are) led by amazing people! The faculty members have so much experience in the “real world” and most have gained expertise in their fields by pursuing the highest degree. Not only do they use their personal insights and stories to make lectures interesting, but they also use their success and knowledge to push students. There were times years ago when I would have given up, but I had gained a confidence in myself and my opinions from my peers and professors which led me to success.

I’ve always had another sense of respect for the professors for their support outside of the classroom. A few examples of this would be professors holding class outside or at a restaurant in town, professors inviting you to their homes for snacks and games, and professors cheering you on at an athletic event or at a play, concert, etc. The word incredible doesn’t even describe them – it’s incredible times a thousand!

It wasn’t only the faculty who made life at Monmouth College memorable, but it was the life-long friendships I developed. My roommate was a complete stranger to me when moving in and we were roommates and great friends for four years! We started hanging around with people from our residence hall, then met some more people during orientation, then more people through class and clubs on campus. It’s unbelievable how easy it is to meet people here and how wonderful all of them are! It’s truly one big family!

If I were asked to share with you what my best memories were I’d have a hard time picking, but here’s what I would share...Family Weekends, Homecomings, Turkey Bowls, Christmas Dinners, Scots Days, Bagpipes waking us up at 7:00 in the morning, football games, baseball games, concerts in our room, Nintendo tournaments, Graduation. Best of all though – I met the love of my life, my husband, Adam!

As a staff member:
My four years as a student went by way to fast, so I was thrilled to begin working as an Admission Representative after graduation. I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to Monmouth College all that it’s given me. I hope to attract students to the college and if they enjoy life at MC half as much as I did, then I’ll feel as if I did my job!

Oh yeah – and I love that I still get to hear the bagpipes. I get chills up my spine every time I hear the beautiful sound!