Kayla McKinney serves as the coordinator of student engagement at the Mary Frances Early College of Education at the University of Georgia. Her responsibilities focus on supporting students and helping them feel welcome within the college.
McKinney’s role includes organizing student-focused events and programs, advising the college’s student ambassadors, and providing support to 20 student organizations within the college. She divides events into categories such as student appreciation, career preparation, and engagement with broader university activities like Homecoming.
She relies heavily on the support of student ambassadors, stating, “I see them every day. They are amazing, and they always help. I could not do my job without them, because the events that I plan logistically could not take place without their additional hands.”
Staying organized is key to McKinney’s work. She uses a large whiteboard calendar in her office and a detailed Excel sheet to keep track of important dates and tasks. “In between is preparing for whatever’s next,” she said.
Although McKinney originally planned a different career path—she graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in creative writing—her involvement in student organizations during her undergraduate years led her to pursue a career in student affairs. “Student affairs is not something people go into college knowing they want to do,” she said. “It kind of just finds you.”
After coming to the University of Georgia for a master’s degree in higher education administration, McKinney worked as a graduate assistant for student engagement at the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. She applied for her current position before graduating and has been in the role since 2022. “I knew I wanted to stay in student engagement and keep up with working student groups and keep working on student events,” McKinney said.
McKinney hopes to be a trusted adult for students, similar to mentors she had in her own academic journey. “That is my biggest goal when I leave this world — I hope people describe me as kind,” she said.
Despite being part of UGA’s third largest school, McKinney works to make the College of Education feel welcoming to all students. “I think we accomplish that pretty well,” she said.
Recently, McKinney was recognized for her contributions with an Unsung Hero Award from the college.
