Jami Houston
Q&A
Q. Where are you employed? What is your Title?
University of Illinois Campus Recreation Assistant Director, Ice Arena
Q. What is your favorite part of your job?
The variety of things I get to do – working with students, managing Illini Hockey games and coming up with creative ideas for public skate promotions to name a few.
Q. What do you consider to be your most valuable contribution to your organization for which you work?
I think I have two specific qualities that make me valuable to my position. First I have many years of experience in Campus Recreation and the University
of Illinois before coming to this position so I am familiar with policies, history and many areas of the department. I think I also bring professionalism to
working with student employees which can sometimes be challenging for new professional staff especially when they are so close in age to their staff.
Q. Given your career path, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Actually given my career path, I have no idea where I will be in 10 years. My experience thus far has taken twists and turns I never saw coming – I
thought I wanted to do Sport Marketing and now here I am helping to manage an ice arena. I do see myself having to decide whether to pursue a career in student
affairs/higher education or event/sport management sometime in the near future.
Q. Do you have any words of advice/recommendations? a. for undergrads still searching for a major-would
you recommend RST and why?, b. for the undergrads currently in the program c. for the senior currently looking for his/her
first position.
I think RST is a great major – even if it does have a stereotype for an easy "A." It really provides practical education in a focused curriculum. For those
who have already chosen RST or are looking for their major, I encourage you to keep your options open. Opportunities come when least expected.
Q. Please add anything else that might be helpful.
Embrace opportunities when they arise – you never know where they might lead. And approach them with enthusiasm – they won’t work out if you are not ready for them.