Staff Spotlight: Megan Buck

Tell us the "short version" of your life story. Include where you were born, a few of the places you've lived, your education, your career progression, and of course we want to know about your family.

I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and lived there until I moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M. I am one of four children, and we’re all very spread apart (my mom had my sister at age 17 and me at age 39). As a kid, I had interests in designing floor plans, researching baby names, and learning about pregnancy and childbirth – can you tell TLC was my favorite channel growing up? When I came to college, I majored in health, and I minored in sociology. I have always enjoyed learning about behavior. Towards the end of my undergraduate program, I was like “that’s all I had to learn and I get a whole degree now?” Feeling unfulfilled, I applied for and was accepted into the Health Education graduate program, also at Texas A&M. Once I graduated, I applied for positions all across the country, and I ended up staying put in College Station.

What inspires you? What are some of the things you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

When I’m not at work, I really enjoy resting and relaxing. I have rheumatoid arthritis and a few related disabilities, so I often try to give myself lots of downtime to recover from the day/week. I enjoy watching tv and YouTube, playing Sims 4 and Stardew Valley, and cleaning/tidying.

Who is your hero and why?

Probably my Granny, who passed away in 2019. She grew up on a farm in Iowa in the 1930s and 1940s, and she experienced many hardships in her life. She was not at all a typical grandmother, but I admire how independent and funny she always was.

What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

Thoughtful

What is one thing about you that few people know?

I like to say I’m “math-minded” – I have always enjoyed math and actually didn’t have to take any math courses in college because I passed my high school AP tests in Calculus AB and BC.

 Why did you decide to come to work for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University?

 During my junior year, I became involved in The Sex Project, a recognized student organization that Health Promotion used to advise. I knew that the work of the Health Promotion staff was what I wanted to do in my future career. Health Promotion posted job openings for student employee positions at the end of the fall semester, and I eagerly applied so I could become part of this world more directly.

Tell us about your job! What are your primary responsibilities and duties? And what other tasks and project do you end up doing that may not be on your job description?

Many of my duties are changing moving forward, but these are some of the projects I’ve worked on in the past five years. I’ve worked a lot on recovery programming, including Run for Recovery (a 5K with Intramural Sports that ran for three years) and SMART Recovery peer support meetings. I lead a peer education group called Aggie Elevate; I train them to support Health Promotion programming in addition to some professional skill-building. I facilitate presentations and workshops to students covering a range of health topics. I’ve also met individually with over 50 students who have violated alcohol and other drug laws and policies to talk through their incidents and make a plan for healthier and safer choices moving forward. I have also served three years as a member of the Student Life Professional Development and Staff Training committee and two years on the Division of Student Affairs Awards committee. I supervise one graduate assistant and three student assistants.

Tell us about your career progression, including at Texas A&M and within our division?

 I started as a student employee for Health Promotion in my junior year, stayed in that position throughout undergrad and grad school, then worked as a program aide for the summer after I graduated, and immediately began working full-time with Health Promotion in August 2019. I began my full-time career as an SDS II and leveled up to an SDS III in 2022.

What one thing do you love most about your job and why?

I enjoy making things “make sense” for students. I enjoy it most in a behind-the-scenes sense, as I develop presentations and other outward-facing communication. I’ve always described the role of a health educator as sort of a translator between the science/research and the public. I like ensuring that concepts are simple enough to understand and do something with. Of course, this also applies in a face-to-face sense, as I meet with students and help them work through an issue they’re having in their lives. It’s fun to problem-solve and help them come to conclusions that feel right for them.