Staff Spotlight

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SHANNON WILEY Mom, Grandma, and Bonafide Business Advocate Like many of the 600-plus division employees, Shannon Wiley didn’t know much about student affairs when she joined the Business Office in 2015, but since then she has embraced her job and higher mission to support students as they navigate their Texas A&M college experience.  “I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I take care of business for the division and the departments we serve with this … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes with Shannon Wiley

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH DESIREE ORNELAZ Trading in Oorah! for Whoop! By Dorian Martin ’06 Gunnery Sergeant Desiree Ornelaz credits one of her drill instructors for being instrumental in helping her gain self-confidence when she was a 17-year-old U.S. Marine Corps recruit. Now as a cadet training officer for Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets, she is in a similar role working with the Corps’ 170-member 1st Brigade.  Ornelaz’s watchful eye and guidance helps these Aggies remain on … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes with Desiree Ornelaz

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH GABRIELLE THARP Data Driven from Indiana to Texas By Madison Isbell ’22 Indiana native Gabrielle Tharp realized that she was destined to work in student affairs when she fell in love with being a resident assistant at the University of Indiana. In the fall of 2016, she moved to College Station to complete a master’s degree in student affairs administration in higher education (SAAHE) at Texas A&M University. She went on to serve as a graduate hall director, a … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes With Gabrielle Tharp

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SUSAN FOX-FORRESTER Assessing the Gray Areas of DSA’s Performance By Dorian Martin ’06 Susan Fox-Forrester has lived a colorful life, both literally and figuratively. The assessment coordinator for Department of Student Affairs, Planning, Assessment & Research parlayed her experience overseeing home furnishing color control into a career in educational assessment. In her downtime, she’s performed in choirs and theatre, indulged her love of gardens, and fell in … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes with Susan Fox-Forrester

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH ARIANE RAY DSA’s Smiling User Interface By Dorian Martin ’06 As much as she enjoys working with technology, Ariane Ray sees her role with Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs’ Information Technology primarily as one of fostering relationships.  As the department’s end user support specialist III, Ray focuses on creating personal connection even when the technology seems to be crashing all around. “Maybe one day your computer doesn't work and you … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes with Ariane Ray