New coordinator of student success coaches packs schedule to gain valuable experience

Most people on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus would look at Emma Hedrick’s schedule and wonder when she sleeps. After all, it takes her an Excel spreadsheet and an office whiteboard to keep track of everything.

But it also keeps her happy.

“All the things that I do, they don’t really feel like work to me,” the junior from Fort Wayne said. “They just feel like things that I love doing. I’m always excited to come to work.”

Work takes different forms for Hedrick. She’s a cadet in the ROTC program, served as the vice president of finance for the Student Government Association during the recently completed academic year, and is now the student coordinator for the Office of Admission’s team of student success coaches.

That role includes training a staff of 11 students during May before orientation tours start in June and continue through the start of the fall semester. That’s when there will be various duties to help the newcomers adjust.

Hedrick wants to make everything better for students, who she says deserve to find a group on campus that becomes like their family.

“You have to find your people, and it makes getting through all of the academic stuff so much easier,” Hedrick said.

Part of her family includes returning student success coaches Willow Cribb, Kamryn Heckman, and Maleah Boyd. They’ll be relied upon to help guide the eight new coaches and prepare them for a long summer of walking backward and answering questions, including unexpected ones. Hedrick hopes situational training can help the new coaches feel as prepared as possible heading into the new student orientation season.

As busy as she is now, Hedrick said like most freshmen she was shy and reluctant to get involved early during her time at PFW. Then a friend suggested she run for the SGA student senate, and Hedrick kept falling in love with new activities.

“With all the individual things I have, it’s important for students coming in to know they can have it all,” Hedrick said. “They can be part of the military, they can be a full-time student, and be part of clubs that they are passionate about—they can do whatever they want to do. This campus gives us a lot of opportunities to have control of our own experience. You don’t have to just go to class, go to work, and go home.”

That gung-ho attitude is part of why Hedrick was picked for the coordinator’s leadership role. During her first year as a student success coach, she was voted as winner of the Spirit of the Mastodon Award by her teammates.

“In just two years, Emma has made such an impact at Purdue Fort Wayne,” said Giang Petroviak, director of New Student Programs. “At the end of her time at the university, I can only imagine the effect she will have on her fellow classmates.”

Major David Clark, assistant professor of military science and leader of the Mastodon Company of ROTC, felt similar about Hedrick.

“Emma Hedrick is one of the top cadets in our program and has incredible potential,” Clark said. “I have yet to meet someone within or without the Army that has so many irons in the fire that have such a positive impact upon others. She will be a great leader, and I’d trust my children to her command.”

Planning to graduate with a psychology degree in 2026, Hedrick said she’ll join the Army to become an infantry officer. Her original post-service plans were to become a therapist, but now Hedrick said she wants to return to a college campus to work with students just like mentors Petroviak, Alex Backer, executive director of student engagement, and Abbey Wang, coordinator of Student Leadership and SGA.

“I love interacting with students,” Hedrick said. “I just love being such a resource for students."