Page 30 - Laker Connection Fall 2013

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giate transitions and the development of skills that will lead them successfully beyond graduation. ”
Often the most challenging part to being “Royal” is that she pushes herself beyond immeasur- able limits. As Assistant Director of Campus Life she oversees the administration and registration process of all myriad student organizations. She is also advisor to the We Are O.N.E.
Interfaith Council,
and the Campus
Events Council. She
also serves on many
campus committees
including the Com-
mencement Commit-
tee, Operation Study,
Student Fees and Ac-
tivities Board, Uni-
versity Image Consulting Committee, Homecoming Committee, and Freshman Premiere Planning Com- mittee.
“Clayton State whole-heartedly supports staff professional development and the opportunity to fur- ther our education. In May 2012, I successfully ob- tained my Master of Education in Higher Education. I was completely supported by my director and my colleagues of the Department of Campus Life, the ad- ministrators of the Division of Student Affairs and many others here,” she says.
The mother of four-year-old Morgan, loves spending time with her daughter whether it is coloring, reading, singing, or even karate - Morgan in an ac- complished yellow belt. Active in her church, where she serves as a leader for the Praise Team and Youth Ministry, Royal is also a member of the National As- sociation of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), serving as an undergraduate fellows pro- gram mentor. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also volunteers in the community, working at St. Francis Table, an Atlanta soup kitchen.
_ Erin Fender
staff profile
ATAWANNA ROYAL
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Being a graduate of Clayton State, this
university means a lot to me. I know how important obtaining a college education is today, but even more so I know how equally important it is to
obtain a college experience filled with opportunities to grow personally and professionally; to engage in diverse opportunities and interactions; to acquire transferable skills; and to develop as a leader,” ex- presses Atawanna Royal.
She came to Clayton State as a non-traditional student, working full time. Her dream? To complete her bachelor’s degree. She jokes that she considered herself a “parking lot student,” one who spends more time traveling through the parking lot than exploring what Clayton State has to offer.
“It didn’t take long for this to change. A couple of weeks into the semester, I began to notice how open and welcoming Clayton State really was with the ad- ministrators and student leaders on campus just as warm as the environment,” she says.
When she began reading her “StudentInfo” emails and getting to know her peers and professors, she soon discovered a new college life experience.
“I discovered a whole new world in this arena called college. The resources, programs, events, and initiatives offered at Clayton State provided me with the opportunity to learn more about myself and other cultures; to define my leadership skills and abilities needed to succeed in this global society. Accompanied with a great academic curriculum, my time at Clayton State as a student proved to be one of the most life- changing, life-shaping experiences I would ever have,” she says.
Fast forward five years later and she is part of theenergeticstaffinCampusLife,encouragingstu- dents to be active; preparing them with tools and skills they need to succeed personally and professionally. Thanks to her own experiences at Clayton State she now enthusiastically assists students with their colle-
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THE LAKER CONNECTION
Clayton State is where I realized I had dreams that I didn’t even know existed, dreams of reaching heights not yet reached; seeing things not yet seen; watching the eyes of other dreamers light up when they realize they too can fly, all while cheering them on as they soar higher and higher.