Jerry Hoffman

Traci Guinn is busily trying to fit into her new position while missing her family
and working on a Ph.D.

“I moved to Michigan three years ago without ever having previously visited.
I didn’t know anyone here, and I had no family here that I knew of,”
said Guinn, Minority Student Services interim director.

The Mount Pleasant climate is hard for her to get used to, compared to Memphis,
Tenn.

“I am still adjusting to the snow. It was beautiful the first five minutes
but after that it went downhill. I hadn’t lived in cold weather or snow for
15 years. My driving has become better since I’ve been in Mount Pleasant,
but it is really hard being away from my family,” she said. “My mom
messed up when we were in college and got an 800 number and she never got rid
of it. I talk to my mom pretty much every day.”

Guinn grew up with her father in the military, and she has lived all over the
United States. Her parents, sister, brother and nephew now live in San Antonio,
Texas.

“I keep myself busy because being away from family is extremely hard for
me. Family is first and foremost in my life,” she said. “They are extremely
important to me.”

She is in Michigan because her parents pushed her to be independent.

“My parents grew up in Memphis, Tenn. Like any parents, they said that their
children would be better off than they were. My parents are wonderful teachers
in life. They said, `we’re going to raise you, and then you are going
to go out and succeed.’ I want to show my parents I learned what they
had to teach,” she said.

Guinn is working on her Ph.D. in educational leadership after completing her master’s
in educational administration and community leadership at Central in a year. She
also has an undergraduate degree in business for the University of Memphis in
Tennessee.

“I believe opportunities are placed in our paths for a reason. I started
taking classes in the summer of 1999 and graduated with my master’s in the
summer of 2000,” she said. “Knowing that I always have a home to go
to makes me a stronger person and gives me more will to succeed and do well in
life.”

Mount Pleasant is a change of pace for Guinn, after moving with her family from
major city to major city all over the U.S.

“I like Mount Pleasant, although it is different than what I am used to.
I previously worked at the University of Memphis as a counselor/ recruiter for
about four years.”

Her new position’s responsibilities will benefit from her former experiences
there and from time spent in the MSS.

“I have worked closely with Minority Student Services. It gives me a different
aspect, which I will use with a lot of the students I will be working with. I
moved to admissions because I want to work with the students on a different level,”
she said. “I’m really excited. I look forward to working with the students
more personally in a way that will help them attain the goals they have set for
themselves. I want to help prepare them for their future lives.”

Guinn plans on easing into her role as interim director.

“I think instead of running in and making dramatic changes I want to first
move in and assess what has been done. I don’t want to go in and rock the
boat. I want to study and research what is already there and give my input from
there,” she said. “It is kind of like cooking. It is just seeing what
spices can be added to make the dish better.”

Guinn would, however, like to see more student involvement and leadership in the
department.

“I look forward to students coming into the office more. I want the students
to know that they are always welcome,” she said.

E-mail the author: Donna GiulianiLIFE Staff Writer