Jake Murphy

Past Leadership Positions:

President – Family Weekend

Director – Campus Activities Board Parade Director

Executive Director – UI Homecoming Council

Current Position:

Graduate Assistant – Student Activities & Programming in the Office of Student Activities at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Major/Minor: Political Science, Psychology, and Leadership Studies

Class: 2016

What lessons from your UI leadership position were most relevant to your career life after college?

There are so many lessons I learned from being involved at the UI including time management, conflict resolution, working on a team, all things that you do not learn in the classroom. Through my involvement and friendships I made because of my involvement, I learned how to be genuine to myself because I was able to explore who I was and what I valued in friendships/relationships. The most important lesson I learned was to be my authentic self so that I am better able to work with others and assist when needed.

How did your student leadership position influence your career path?

My involvement with CAB and Homecoming quite literally cemented my career path. I am now at UCCS studying Student Affairs in Higher Education because I learned during my time at Iowa that I have a passion for student development and leadership. I did not enter Iowa with the hopes of studying SAHE, nor did I anticipate that it would arise because of my involvements, but it did and I could not be happier. Through my close interactions with the professional staff members in the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, I knew that was the type of office I would love to someday work in!

If you could give current UI student leaders one piece of advice, what would it be?

Get involved! Find something, anything to do outside of the classroom because it will not only help you become a better person, but it can assist you in becoming a better student. Clubs and organizations, Greek life, on-campus employment, intramural sports...there are seriously SO MANY WAYS for you to get involved and connected at the University of Iowa! Find your fit and get involved – it is never too early or late!

"Get involved! Find something, anything to do outside of the classroom because it will not only help you become a better person, but it can assist you in becoming a better student."