Meet a USAC Member: Paige Farst
What department do you work in and what is your job title?
Dean of Students – Marketing and Communications Coordinator
How long have you been a Vanderbilt employee?
2.5 years
What has been your career journey to lead you to where you are today?
I started out as a student worker in Campus Recreation at University of Tennessee Chattanooga. That opportunity led me to graduate school at Ole Miss where I was a graduate assistant for Campus Recreation and an Intern for Athletics. My master’s degree is in Higher Education and Student Personnel which led me to OHARE and Dean of Students here at Vanderbilt. I started college in 2011 and seems like I will never leave. 😊
What is the greatest bit of advice a parent or mentor has given you?
Everyday when my mom would drop me off at school she would say “treat others the way you want to be treated!” That has always stuck with me and it means more and more to me every day. I think anything we can do for one another in a kind way can help to change how some people feel about how we are becoming as a society. We should be treating one another kindly because we are all on this Earth together.
What do you enjoy doing to relieve stress?
Whenever I need to relieve stress – I hide my phone. My favorite places to hide my phone are in my purse (while browsing a store) or in a beach bag (while on a boat or at the pool/beach). I also stress eat, but we won’t get into that.
Are you more productive at night or in the morning? Do you think it is possible to change and get used to a new schedule?
I think I am more productive in the morning. Remote work has proven that I can adapt to a new schedule. Although there are certainly benefits to having a schedule and keeping to that schedule, there are also benefits to changing up one’s routine. (i.e. improve both mental and physical health.) If you are stuck in a schedule and the same routine day after day, try doing something different occasionally, and see how you feel. It may just be the change you need!
Name two things you consider yourself to be good at?
Making Auntie-Anne’s replica pretzel bites and making to-do-lists.
What skill or talent would you most like to learn?
I would love to learn interior design skills. I love to decorate! However, this talent would probably need to start with the skill of saving money!
If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?
Honestly, an hour nap after lunch would be nice!