Emporia State graduate student Michelle Hernandez, Greek Life Coordinator at the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) for ESU, demonstrates her passion for student involvement as the interim coordinator for Greek Life.

“Through my involvement here, I have decided that I have a love for student affairs and that it is something that I would like to make my career in.” Hernandez said. “I love Greek life.”

Hernandez was always involved on campus as an Emporia State University undergraduate student. When Hernandez enrolled to obtain her master’s degree she also received a Graduate Assistant position for Greek Life in the CSI office.

“I have known Michelle for about three years when I was the director of the Union and she was an undergraduate student in Greek Life,” said Lynn Hobson, associate vice president of Student Life at ESU. “She is very outgoing, friendly and welcoming towards other people.”

Hobson said Hernandez cares about students and really wants them to have the best experience possible.

“Michelle is a really caring person and always willing to help out whenever,” said Hayley Finch, senior communication major.

Hernandez is originally from Kingman. She graduated from ESU in May 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Hernandez is now in a master’s program for her MBA.

“Michelle is really dependable.” Hobson said. “If she said she is going to do something, she gets it done, and she gets it done on time.”

When Hernandez acted as a graduate assistant, she just jumped in and wanted to learn everything she could about the process, Hobson said.

There are six fraternities and five sororities in the ESU Greek community. Hernandez thinks that ESU has a really great community because they are so small. Hernandez was in one of the sororities when she was an undergraduate at ESU.

“They collaborate on a lot of things, and are really unified.” Hernandez said. “Since I am disaffiliated, and we want to be impartial, I can’t tell people which chapter I was in.”

According to Hernandez, joining Greek Life can help to focus on important principles like leadership, scholarship, and stewardship.

“You will find there are a lot of people who are leaders in organizations that are also Greeks.” Hernandez said. “Greek Life opens a lot of doors for students to meet a lot of people, and they can learn how to be a leader. The Greeks also all do study hours, and they all have minimum GPA requirements.”

As Interim Greek Life Coordinator, Hernandez works on advising Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, the order of Omega (which is the Honor society for Greeks), Greeks Advocating Mature Management Alcohol (GAMMA) and United Greeks Association (UGA). Hernandez works with presidents of different chapters and helps by advising them about any issue that they may be having with Greek Life as a whole, or with a certain chapter.

“She may advise them how to take the next steps to make sure things go smoothly.” Hobson said. “Michelle is doing a really good job because she is still a graduate student. She is advising, and going to school.”

Yun Lauren Liu/Staff Writer

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