As Student Engagement Coordinator at Bryn Mawr College, Mia Harvey is a pillar of the undergraduate experience, managing clubs, events and funding. The Bi-Co News sat down with her for an interview about her unique background, current occupation and responsibilities.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Mia Harvey: My name is Mia Harvey… I’m the Student Engagement coordinator for Bryn Mawr College… My background is a little different—I have a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance in Bagpiping and Vocals, a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication with a minor in Leadership Studies. Then I stayed at Edinboro University [in Pennsylvania], which is on the other side of the state, for my Master’s of Arts in Communication Studies, and I focused on organizational communication. Then I moved to Philadelphia for Bryn Mawr, took a year off school, and now I’m finishing up a Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership Studies.
How did you end up here at Bryn Mawr?
MH: I was the Professor of Bagpiping at Allegheny College for a year and found that I really love working with college students, being that person to help guide and mentor, just learning about different people’s lives and paths and how they came to be where they were. So two weeks before I graduated with my masters, I decided to make a career pivot. I applied for a bunch of jobs, found Bryn Mawr, absolutely fell in love with the school and was so lucky to have been offered the job… I packed up shop in two weeks and moved out to Philly!
Could you tell us about your position as Student Engagement Coordinator here at Bryn Mawr?
MH: It encompasses quite a bit. I do the large-scale activities with the Owl Programming Board, which is a new group this year. They do the Welcome Back Bash, [and] we’ve been doing mini-events that the students themselves get to plan and host. We have a phenomenal team this year, I’m so lucky to have such great student workers. I do club and leadership organization and management, so any assistance clubs need, that comes through me. I do alcohol and drug education through the party policy, hazing education… I work closely with the class presidents, Traditions and large-scale events. Anything student-facing, a lot of it comes from our office.
Why is student engagement important?
MH: College is more than studying. It’s about the friendships you make, it’s about the experiences you gain. I feel that I’ve learned more outside of a classroom than I did inside of it, and that comes from the leadership from the fraternities I was a part of. I was a part of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity; I was able to be Treasurer, Secretary and President in college. Then I actually had a national district position, where I worked with over 70 chapters in the Northeast district. I was the Vice President of Programs and I now lead the national communications team for the fraternity.
And I’m also in Sigma Alpha Iota—which is the International Women’s Music Fraternity—and I’m active in our local chapter, and got to serve on our national DEI committee. I feel like I learn so much from being in those organizations and those clubs, and learning a lot from my mentors and my advisors. And of course I learned so much in the classroom, I can never discount that, but I do feel that outside of the classroom is truly where the magic happens. Our office wants to offer events that are fun to distract you from your studies, get you out of your room, have some fun and make some friendships… but also for me, the leadership development programming that we do is so important because that’s what people look at a resume, and they look at what you’ve done and it sets you apart.
What is your favorite part of being the Student Engagement Coordinator?
MH: It’s cheesy but it is working with the students. It’s so exciting to have students come in and tell you what they’re planning and what they’re thinking about doing. A new club getting formed is so exciting for me, to help guide them through that process and getting to see them flourish. I love when students come in and tell me about what’s going on in their lives and how excited they are because they got a job offer, or they’re exploring a new path, or they found something that they love to do… or even just like they went to a movie that weekend and it was exciting. It truly is just being student-facing and working with students one-on-one.
