Student Life Charts New Course for Psychology Major

Posted by: admin on October 17, 2014, 3 Comments

The roar of an alarm clock at 6 a.m. is a sound in which Tyler Dillon finds comfort. The all-too familiar sound, which is generally dreaded by most, means Dillon will be spending his day, sporting his red and black Orientation Staff polo, on the East Stroudsburg University campus.

“I particularly look forward to the days when I have the opportunity to welcome prospective and current students to our campus,” he said.

Dillon, who will graduate ESU in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, will soon be saying so long to a college campus that changed his life. But the impact his years at ESU has made on his life are indelible.

Four years ago, Dillon received an acceptance letter into ESU’s athletic training program. He came to ESU for two reasons: to get started on his dream of becoming the head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia Flyers and to play soccer. However, after spending his first two years immersed in student life, Dillon changed his major, and found himself pursuing graduate degree programs that specialize in student affairs.

As a freshman, Dillon hunted for a job that would allow him to expend his high energy and to help him afford the unexpected “extras” of college life. After a quick search, he decided to become an Orientation Leader.

That was just the start of what has now become an extensive resume of involvement for Dillon. As he progressed, Dillon served as a resident adviser in Shawnee Hall during his junior year, which then evolved into membership within the Residence Hall Association and the Moses Society, a residence hall honorary for resident advisers.

“Tyler Dillon was a valuable addition to our Residence Life department,” Robert Moses, director of residence life and housing, said. “As an RA he exhibited the highest level of professionalism and could be counted upon to complete assignments and tasks in an accurate and timely fashion.”

It’s not only his experiences at ESU that will help Dillon go places after graduation. In his role as an Orientation Leader, Dillon had the opportunity to travel. He attended the National Orientation Directors’ Association (NODA) Annual Conference twice: once in Las Vegas, Nev. and once in San Antonio, Texas, where he presented in front of a national audience. “I receive much more than I give as an Orientation Leader,” Dillon said. “It’s great to be in a position that allows me to help other students.”

Dillon stayed the course with residence life until the end of his junior year and advanced to his latest position as the Orientation Student Staff Coordinator, where he proudly aids in training the orientation staff and builds the programming modules for incoming students.

Along the way, he’s also become a member of the student/faculty conduct board, and a challenge course facilitator, where he helps facilitate groups in team building activities and the high rope course, at Stony Acres.

“My time working at ESU helped me to realize that I want to make an impact and create more opportunities for college students,” he said. “As I begin to close the door on this chapter of my life, I’m remaining mindful of all I’ve learned here at ESU – not only in the classroom, but from my many experiences here. I am deeply indebted to the many mentors who have helped me to be a better person and a good role model for students just arriving at ESU. It all comes full circle for me now.”

After his undergraduate career at ESU, Dillon plans to head off to graduate school and earn his master’s degree in student affairs.

“My main goal is to become a vice president of Student Affairs at a university by the time I am 45 years old,” he said. “It’s a far cry from my vision of working for the Philadelphia Flyers, but I know the work I plan to do will be equally as rewarding.”