Have you ever been around a person that no matter what kind of mood you are in, their mere presence puts a smile on your face? Do you know someone who takes life for what it is and nothing more, someone who you can always relate to, someone who really enjoys a good laugh? For those of you who know Jamie McEwen, you are nodding your heads right now knowing full well what I am writing is the absolute truth. For those of you who have never met Jamie… here is your chance… and I suggest, as a friend, that you seek her out at the next conference. She will make you glad you did.

Jamie McEwen is the Student Employment Coordinator in the Financial Aid office at Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. Jamie’s primary responsibilities are to manage the federal and state work study programs and to work with individual departments on campus regarding student employment. Washburn requires their student employees to sign a contract for employment and Jamie manages between 700 and 900 contracts. And now she is helping students find jobs by creating a job posting via the Washburn University’s web site. Posting the job positions there allows the students to become more familiar with what is available before even coming to her office to apply. Students are comfortable with the web, and this helps them accomplish the first step with ease.

Jamie started working for the financial aid office in 1993. She was asked to come in just to help out, and that was supposed to be just a two-week trial basis. Those two weeks stretched into months, years, and now a career. Jamie worked part-time for the first 10 years at Washburn while raising her three children, until she accepted the position in her current role. Jamie loves her job because, “I see great people everyday, both the students and our staff. I work with terrific people who make everything fun. Life is too short not to have some fun everyday! I love talking to students and hearing what they are going to do with their lives. Everyone is going in a little different direction and I find that so interesting. It is rewarding for me to help the students accomplish their goals.”

Jamie is a big goal setter. “I may not always achieve my goals, but it at least gives me something to shoot for.” She is currently working on plans to set up an early awareness program with the local Topeka middle schools. According to Jamie, Annita Huff, the Director of Financial Aid at Washburn, is all for it! Jamie was able to visit one school this past year. Right now she is just looking for time to get it all done.

Jamie is also very involved in a program on campus called the “Transformational Experience” where all Washburn students must complete four different categories, such as leadership, study abroad, or community service, in order to graduate . “These are just a few of the categories,” Jamie said, “but they help to round out the student’s education and they get a taste of what the rest of the world is really like.” The federal work study program spent close to 25% of its funds this year towards this experience and Jamie would like to see this grow to 50%.

Jamie is a people person. As she puts it, “I’m a talker.” Jamie enjoys doing presentations and training sessions. She is being asked more and more by KASFAA and RMASFAA to fill session slots at the conferences. Jamie is the vice chair for the Leadership and Pipeline committee for RMASFAA. Next year, as chair, Jamie would like to see more people involved. “This is such a meaningful committee and it helps to get people more involved in the association. I’m excited and glad to have the opportunity to serve.”

On a personal note, Jamie has been married to a “great husband” for 29 years. She said that she chose well, and she and Ron work well together. They must work like two peas in a pod, because they live at home with their three adult children: Mary, 24, student at Washburn; Cole, 23, a med-student; and Phillip, 21, a student at Allen County Community College. She said that it can be difficult having 5 adult personalities in one household. Allowing her children to move back home to pursue their college careers has its struggles, but it is working for right now. However, she is quick to confirm that this is not a permanent situation. “All of them have been told that they have to get out as soon as they can! Being a parent of adults means having the patience and the know-how to stay out of their business and allow them to mess-up from time to time. We just hope that when they hit rock bottom that they’ve learned their lesson and can move on from there.”

Jamie’s main hobby is reading; she usually reads two books a week. She and her husband, Ron, are in a big remodeling project at home that is taking up some of her weekend time. Jamie has had three surgeries on her foot this past year and is looking forward to spring’s arrival with the hopes of being able to walk and enjoy the warm weather outdoors.