Chelsey Wilson

We would like you to meet Chelsey Wilson ’11, a business management alum from Columbia Falls, Montana, who is now an Director of Development MSU's Alumni Foundation here in Bozeman, Montana.

Why MSU/Jabs?

I always knew I wanted to study business. I was intrigued by logistics and operations management, how to optimize systems, how to positively engage people within the workplace, and how to solve problems and innovate. I am a first-generation college student from Montana, so I truly didn’t explore out of state options. I honestly just landed on MSU because of location and price, and it was the best “just because” of my life. I am now a proud three-time alum of MSU. MSU is where I found my sense of place, community, and where I became a young professional and who I am today. While I credit the entire institution to that, Jabs played a very large part of that role. My professors and the staff in Jabs cared about me and saw potential in me that I did not see in myself. They encouraged me to keep going, to get involved and connected, and supported me through not just class curriculum, but through the college experience and the transition to career.

What did you find most helpful at Jabs and why?

The Bracken Center and the Meet the Business Recruiter events. I attended Meet the Business Recruiters with no expectations, but of course had done research on some of the companies. I walked into the event nervous and scared, but walked out with four on-site interviews with companies including Boeing, NAVSEA, Gallup, and Kiewit. If I did not attend Meet the Business Recruiters, I would have never had the opportunity to fly out to the company’s location sites and interview and might not have had a job lined up post-graduation.

What were some Activities & Societies you were a part of while at MSU?

I went on a spring break service trip my freshman year called BreaksAway, through the Office of Student Engagement. We traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and revitalized the city parks. I was a leader in the HR Management Club and the Students in Free Enterprise Club (formerly SIFE, now Enactus). I had the opportunity to travel to Denver, Colorado to meet Jake Jabs and learn more about his story and American Furniture Warehouse. I also went on an HR/Management Club trip to Las Vegas, where we learned more about hospitality management careers.

Two quotes about your experiences at Jabs/College:

  1. Go to class. I still have nightmares that I am enrolled in a calculus class and didn’t realize it until the end of the semester and flunked out. That didn’t actually happen. But what did happen was I skipped calculus class – a lot. I skipped it because I wasn’t good at it and I felt like I didn’t belong in that class. This caused me to earn a D and I had to take it again. Don’t do what I did. Go to class. Go to the Math Learning Center. Ask for help.
  2. MSU is special and will always be by “home” away from home. I hope you feel the same way!

Briefly describe what you do for work:

I am a Development Director at the MSU Alumni Foundation. I have the wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with alumni, friends, parents, donors, and community partners of the university. My job is to build relationships and secure private funding in support of MSU’s many initiatives and programs, ultimately to support our MSU Students!

What has your career path looked like since leaving MSU?

After graduation, I worked at a fortune 500 company. The work was competitive, and I was able to advance the skillsets I learned in college, but I was looking to re-engage with higher education. I applied for a job at MSU and was hired! I started in the Office of Admissions supporting high school students and their families with admission procedures and the transition from high school to college. Day 3, I knew I would make a career out of higher education. I felt so fulfilled. I decided to go to graduate school to earn a Master’s and Doctorate Degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs. I did this while working full time, which was great, because I could apply what I was learning at work to what I was learning in the classroom and vice versa. I later worked in the Office of Student Engagement, creating on and off campus opportunities to engage MSU students. I also had the opportunity to work in the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship as the Director of Academic and Career Engagement for the Bracken Center. In this role, I supported business students in their career endeavors and worked with companies across the nation to expand our on-campus recruiting efforts. I was later invited to pursue a career in development and am thrilled for the opportunity to support MSU and MSU students in this way.  To sum it up, my career path has been far from linear – and that’s ok! Enjoy the process and make the most of each position you are in.

Advice for students:

Part of learning in college happens outside of the classroom. I did not realize that while I was in college. I realized it after. My advice to you: take ownership of all the amazing student support services. They exist for you. Go to the Bracken Business Communications Clinic. Visit with the team in the Bracken Center. Meet with your academic advisor. Visit your professors during office hours. Attend the networking and career events. Go to guest speakers and lecturers. This will help you connect the dots and will set your college experience apart. And if you aren’t sure where to start, ask for help. Visit with the Assistant Dean of Student Services or one of your professors to learn how to get connected.