At the start of the month, Marie Harrell joined the Athletics Department as the athletic student success specialist after her predecessor was named the new Athletics director.
Harrell previously worked for 13 years in the campus Job Resource Center as the internship manager but started her career in higher education at Illinois State University as assistant director/career advisor assigned to work with student-athletes. She is passionate about helping students and loves sports, and she's excited for this new role.
Q and A with Harrell:
Why did you want to become the next athletic student success specialist?
This is what I am supposed to do. Ever since I was in undergraduate school, I wanted to help athletes with life skills. Once I started in higher education, I knew I wanted to work with student-athletes. I know I can be a positive impact on the students and the department. My passion is sports. I have always been able to have a good rapport with students, faculty and other stakeholders. Being part of the Athletics Department is my dream job.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I look forward to really helping the athletes succeed. I know that's in my title, but I take that very serious. I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes. I have always been someone people can talk to, I am a good listener and try to give sound advice. I want to help in taking the Athletics Department to the next level.
What is your background in sports?
I played basketball in high school, got a scholarship to one college but chose a different college and decided not to play. My children are basketball players, and I have been a part of their athletic careers since my daughter was 7 and my son was 5.
My daughter played basketball until this year (medically retired) at The University of Texas at San Antonio, and my son will be playing at the University of Mary in North Dakota in the fall. I have organized camps, AAU teams, coached middle school teams and ensured my children were eligible to play Division I sports.
I have worked with student-athletes in my previous employment at Illinois State in the Career Services Department. We – my husband and children – consider ourselves the first family of basketball.
What would you like to bring to this position and to Athletics in general?
I would love to bring the career services component to Athletics. I want to bring all the resources Moraine Valley has to offer to the student-athletes. I will bring my knowledge of those resources on the professional and personal side. When I say personal, I have been privy to my children being student-athletes and have seen them go through highs and lows.
You officially started this month; what are your first steps in the new role?
First, I have to remember I am going to Building H not Building S. Cleaning my office was second, I needed to set it up to my liking.
The official first step is learning orientation for the new student-athletes. In addition, getting familiar with the department and how the day-to-day operations are run, who does what, who is here, etc. Also, familiarizing myself with some of the policies and procedures when dealing with student-athletes, what is said and what information is given to them.
Favorite pro sports team(s)?
That is hard to say because pro sports are different nowadays, but if I had to pick, I would say Chicago teams.
If you are just talking teams, I would have to say college is where my favorites are – Alabama, University of Texas at San Antonio, Nebraska and now University of Mary.
Favorite sport(s)?
Number one is basketball, then football, track and field, swimming, however, I can watch all sports and probably would include cornhole and bull riding.
If you had a walk-up song, what would it be?
"Finally" by CeCe Peniston.