Jeffrey Powell

What do you like about your job? 

On the really good days, I get to work with students who need a reminder of why they are here. I encourage them to push themselves in their classes and help connect them with the resources they need to be successful in their college experience. Being a source of support and a cheerleader for students is a powerful and rewarding feeling.

On the hardest days, I get to sit with students who have experienced trauma or have been let down by a person or a system. Helping them navigate those moments and find a way forward during a difficult time is an important part of what I do.

Can you give me a brief timeline of how your career led you to UIS? 

Thirty-five years ago, I worked as a resident assistant in a residence hall at a Big Eight school, where someone encouraged me to pursue a career working with students. That moment helped set the course for my professional path. UIS is the eighth institution where I have had the opportunity to work, and each stop has allowed me to try to make a difference in people’s lives, something I consider a true blessing.  

Have you traveled to any interesting places?  

One of my most memorable travel experiences was studying abroad in the former Soviet Union, in the city then known as Leningrad. At the time, I was an uncertain college sophomore, and the experience significantly shaped my perspective on the world.

That experience has given me a deep appreciation for international students who travel far from home to pursue new opportunities. I also regularly encourage American students to consider study-away experiences, as they can be truly life-changing.