News Photo by Jordan Spence Nancy Seguin talks with fellow Alpena Community College co-workers.

ALPENA — Nancy Seguin said there isn’t a day where she doesn’t wake up and look forward to work.

Seguin is the Alpena Community College Student Services Center director. She has worked for the school in different capacities for about 30 years, she said.

“My job is to advocate an exceptional student experience,” she said. “Student services is under my umbrella of coverage. This includes admissions, the student services center. I just took on campus housing, I’m also the director of the Huron Shores campus in Oscoda.”

The scope of her job involves student testing, grant activities, job placement and more.

“I started out in athletics. Then moved onto athletics and financial aid from there I went to instruction. I was an administrative assistant in all those areas,” she said.

While she worked in the financial aid office, the opportunity arose for her to go after her Master’s degree. Her husband’s encouragement played a big role in Seguin’s decision to continue her education.

“My husband John, he lost his position with a plant that closed down,” she said. “Then I was able to get my Master’s from CMU without having to travel. He told me, ‘We’ll find a way.’ His encouragement was huge. I bring that to work with me everyday.”

Seguin now has an associate in arts from ACC, a bachelor’s of science and secondary education and master’s in counseling from CMU.

“It was something he felt it was a good calculated risk,” she said. “Without him I couldn’t have done it. It took me three years. I felt by the grace of God I had the opportunity.”

Because her job deals with students every day, Seguin said she has to lead with a humble strength.

“There’s the good and the bad. The good is when I get to send them a letter that they’ve been put on the dean’s list. At the last graduation the event was over and the halls cleared and I heard my name. It was a student who just received a diploma and he had a big hug for me. He said, ‘Thanks for giving me a kick in the butt.’ He was a student I dismissed three years ago. I met with him every six weeks. I do that with all the students who appeal academic dismissal. It almost wasn’t going to happen (his graduation).”

She said she loves to have the opportunity to be part of change.

“In my mind, student services is just as important as academic. They need to have a positive student experience here as well,” she said.

Since issues come through her door on a constant basis, Seguin has to know how to listen and react to accommodate a student’s best outcome.

“I’m pulled five ways at once. That’s a challenge to be able to fix things or help in a certain way and see a positive resolution,” she said.

She said she also has a good staff that helps in every which way.

To keep maintaining a balance Seguin said there are a few practices she encourages.

“I prioritize what is the thing that needs my attention the most. I also adhere to deadlines. Procrastination, I just can’t,” Seguin said.

Even on the busiest of days, Seguin said the work at ACC is her dream job.

“It’s been wonderful. I have to say I’ve been very blessed working at ACC. There isn’t a day I don’t enjoy and look forward going to work. That is because all the positions I’ve held interact with students (and) I love interacting with students. Every day that goes by, I hope I can make a difference or make their life better. So I go home at night and think that’s really great. It meshes with my value system.”

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.