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Share thisStaff Spotlight: Lisa Martinez DeVinney ‘14 and Kristen Nielsen ‘21 (Master’s of Strategic Leadership)
“I remember Professor Joel Hoomans saying at the start of the program, honestly, ‘School isn’t the most important thing in your life. You’ve got to get an ‘A’ in your family and an ‘A’ in your job. Over the next year and a half, there could be times where you need to get a ’B’ somewhere, and it’s ok if that is school.’”
Introducing Lisa Martinez DeVinney and Kristen Nielsen, two admissions professionals and graduates of the Master’s of Strategic Leadership program!
Lisa on the left and Kristen on the right.
Kristen works as the Director of Recruiting for the Adult and Graduate Admissions Office, and Lisa works in the same office as the Associate Director of Corporate Partners and Transfer Pathways, and as an adjunct professor in the Department of Language and Literature.
Both women have graduated from and built successful careers at Roberts Wesleyan University. Kristen was first hired as the Visit Counselor for Traditional Undergraduate Admissions in 2012 and Lisa began as the Graduate Program Coordinator for Teacher Education in 2009.
What brought you to Roberts?
Lisa: My first career was in Washington, D.C. at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in both Policy and Planning, and Disaster Fundraising. After my husband and I moved to Rochester, I chose to stay home with my kids until they were all in school.
When I decided to go back into the workforce, a family member asked, “Have you thought about working at Roberts?” I had always loved Christian higher education because I’m a product of it as an alumna of Biola University! I have always enjoyed working with college students.
So, I applied for the job and I’ve been here ever since!
Kristen: Like Lisa, Roberts is also my second career.
Ever since childhood, I was dead set on being a news reporter. I went into the local news industry after college… but that didn’t pan out the way I thought.
I ended up leaving the news industry, feeling a bit discouraged and unsure of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I wanted to find something that aligned both my skill set and my mission. I was looking for a workplace that I could call home.
During my time as local news producer, I heard so many discouraging stories from our community where I felt that both the access to and power of education could have made a difference. It seemed to be the solution to so many problems. So, when someone referred me to Roberts, I immediately thought “this could be it.”
Roberts took a chance on me, even though I didn’t have any prior experience. I’m so glad they did.
Kristen receiving NACCAP's "Graduate & Adult Professional of the Year" award.
What advice would you give to someone trying to change their career?
Kristen: It’s possible. You have to be a sponge and really come in with a growth mindset, ready to learn.
Working in news and then pharmaceutical training had several transferable skills… but for me, higher education was way different than anything I previously experienced as a professional. It took time for me to become an expert in this field.
Lisa: Keep an open mind. Try something new! Even if you don’t know a lot about the industry, try it out.
Kristen: There’s just so much variety in higher education. For example, you could work directly with students as an educator, mentor or coach. Or, you could use your sales experience to work in Admissions or Marketing. There’s fundraising, IT, project management, and the list goes on… there’s something for everyone!
Lisa and her family.
What does “character education” mean to you?
Lisa: I think it means integrating what you believe, your value system, into your vocation. It’s more than just the academics - that’s part of it, but it’s also transforming yourself. Growing as a person.
Kristen: I think it speaks to the “why.” Education, in general, teaches you the “what” and the “how” but Roberts digs into the why. Why it’s important, why we care, why we’re here.
What do you like best about working in the Office of Admissions?
Lisa: The team that I work with! We have a great team that works really well together to try and make a positive difference in our students’ lives. It’s very rewarding to work with students in the admissions stage and then subsequently watch them walk across the graduation stage.
We both work with adult students. A lot of times, when adults are looking to go back to school, they’re very nervous and don’t believe in themselves. It’s hugely satisfying to be the one encouraging them and saying, “you can do this and then actually watch them do it.”
What was it like to earn your Master’s of Strategic Leadership?
Lisa: I loved hearing all the different perspectives in my cohort. We still keep in touch! I feel so much support and encouragement from them just because we went through that program and were in the trenches together, so to speak.
It was also a great time to finish my master’s. I was in my 40’s at the time, so it had been 20-something years since I had earned my bachelors. It was a long-awaited accomplishment for me. It also showed my kids it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Kristen: The way in which we learned was the most impactful. At the end of the program, we took all the skills we gained and put together a strategic audit. That process is really crucial for success in any organization. Being able to practically apply all that we learned was very valuable. It gave me the foundation to know I can take that and do it anywhere.
Kristen and her family at graduation.
What it was like to earn your degree as a working parent?
Kristen: Honestly, I dragged my feet to get started. I kept telling myself I should’ve done this before I had kids! But now, I have no regrets.
Earning this degree, while managing a young family, a demanding job, and during a worldwide pandemic was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. Crossing the stage meant more to me in 2021 than when I completed my bachelors degree in 2009. I leaned heavily on my husband and family to give me time for homework, help with the kids and house, etc.
Lisa: To piggyback on that, I want to say how much I needed and appreciated my family’s support. My husband really stepped up and took over a lot of the household and parenting duties while I was in school.
I also wrote an article about my tips for working parents going back to school! Click here to read it.
Kristen: I needed a bit of focused tunnel vision, head down, and counting down the months. It helped motivate me.
I remember Professor Joel Hoomans saying at the start of the program, “School isn’t the most important thing in your life. You’ve got to get an ‘A’ in your family and an ‘A’ in your job. Over the next year and a half, there could be times when you need to get a ’B’ somewhere, and it’s ok if that is school.” I'm the type of person to put a lot of pressure on myself. I feared that the weight of it all would be too much and his statement gave me the freedom to breathe and believe it would be ok. It was empowering, and I ended up doing great!
What is your favorite quote or verse and why?
Lisa: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
As a Type A person, I like to remember and remind myself that it’s great for me to make plans and have goals… but in the end, God is in charge. It’s His purpose in my life that’s going to prevail.
Kristen: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Ever since I became a mom, when I felt the weight of anxiety, worry, and fear… this is the verse I would turn to. I found it helpful, too, while pushing through grad school and the pandemic.
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