On an ordinary fall morning, I would have been greeted with a warm infectious smile sure to knock the chill out of any room. We would have shared a cup of coffee or tea, perhaps a pastry, and her graceful energy would have set the tone as our interview commenced. Sadly, Covid-19 has changed all of our worlds, how we do business, and the manner in which we interact with each other. Although our interview had to be conducted virtually, Mrs. Keanu Respess, the newest addition to the APEX Advising team, flashed her cheerful grin across the screen and despite our unnatural setting, she still drew me into her naturally nurturing personality.
Keanu received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion Merchandising, a Master of Arts in Higher Education and a Graduate Certificate in Advising all from Eastern Michigan University, in 2015 and 2019 respectively. Having served as the Community Lead for the APEX Summer Bridge component for two consecutive summers, Keanu (pronounced Key-anna) is no stranger to the APEX program, its operations and the student population served. Mrs. Respess joined the APEX professional advising team in November of 2019.
With an undergraduate background in Fashion Merchandising, I was curious to know what steered her in the Academic Advising direction. After a brief stint in retail, Keanu said she realized her level of dissatisfaction. She passionately expressed that she wanted more. She said she began to recall her experience in Eastern Michigan’s Admissions Call Center and how much she enjoyed it; noting however, her desire at that point, was to connect with students and have a stronger influence on their success. She said after a little research, she knew the advising arena would give her the opportunity to coach students through their educational experience, allowing her to go beyond the point of getting them in the door. This realization pushed her toward her pursuit of the higher education profession, with a focus in advising.
As an advisor, Keanu likens her role to that of a professional accountability partner. APEX Advisors may be known for their intrusive style of advising and Keanu incorporates that model, while standing firm in her belief that she does not want to be viewed as a parent or dictator. She wants to serve and be seen as a guide and support to students as they navigate their own academic path and overall college experience.
Keanu went on to describe the challenging and rewarding aspects of advising thus far. She admits that the role can be emotionally taxing, but the joy of seeing a student act on decisions and elevate themselves based on the advice she offers far outweighs any form of fatigue or burnout. That’s where her reward lies. She notes that it is very important for her to exercise good self-care, as that is what keeps her going in-between success stories. A more recent challenge that we, as advisors have all experienced in this new virtual world, is the inability to connect with students on the same level. Keanu expressed the disheartening feeling that comes with not being able to establish that same sense of rapport. “It’s hard to see emotion, when students’ cameras are off,” she said. Ultimately, it is her hope that despite the physical distance that the virtual world creates, she and her students will still be able to build trust; she will still be able to witness their growth as they act on decisions; and that one day soon, she will be able to enjoy those random drop-ins to her office from students just wanting to say hello and share how well they are doing!
Keanu, thoroughly enjoys her role and the profession she has chosen, stating, “I see myself right here with APEX in the next five years. I really like the APEX model and how it allows me to work and connect with students!” She went on to say that if she were to transition into an administrative role, she would want it to be a position that allows her to still have direct contact with students. She does not want to be so “high up” that she loses touch with how she directly influences students’ success. Keanu emphasized that she, “finds contentment in the groundwork.”
As a well-balanced person, Keanu enjoys arts and crafts and spending time with her family and friends. We laughed at her stating she is a dog person, but only owns a dog in her mind. She says dog fur tends to get the best of her. She is currently working on a quilt made of all the T-shirts she gathered from her years as an Orientation Leader at EMU, organizations she has been affiliated with and volunteer experiences at WSU. Very recently, in July, Keanu celebrated her first year of marriage. Let us all wish Keanu a heart-felt welcome to the WSU Advising community. I believe she will continue to be a true gem!