Staff Spotlight: Erin O’Brien
Meet Erin O’Brien, a new staff member of the Diederich College of Communication in the records office.
I grew up in Hudson, Wis., a small town on the St. Croix River outside of St. Paul Minn. Following high school, I enjoyed 5 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where I earned a degree in secondary education and broad field social studies in May of 2019. Following graduation, I moved to Southeastern Minn. to teach social studies in a rural school district in Harmony, Minn. It was a small school, so I ended up teaching a variety of courses. Over my 3 years I taught world history, government, economics, geography, debate, and holocaust studies. Little did I know, much of that teaching would be online due to Covid-19.
I loved teaching and the beauty of the Driftless, but in 2020, I got engaged and we decided to settle down in Milwaukee following our wedding. We got married on July 16, 2022 at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee, just 3 weeks after starting my position at Marquette University. I have always had a desire to work in higher education, and when the position opened in the Diederich College of Communication, I knew I had to jump on it. I am passionate about assisting students and promoting a positive attitude in the workplace. Marquette and the Diederich College of Communication have been the perfect spot for me as I begin my journey in the collegiate space.
I have always been interested in higher education. The position itself sounded great and has been, but what really drew me to the Diederich College was the people during the interview process. I was interviewed by several members of the current team including Dr. Kati Berg, Tracey Sturgal, Melissa Econom, and Dean Sarah Feldner. I left every interview knowing that I wanted to work with these women. They were all so welcoming and warm, and working with them has been the highlight of the position thus far. In addition to the people, the college itself is incredible. With the studios on the second floor, knowledge of the faculty members, and accomplished alumni relationships, it’s been a fast paced and interesting position to say the least. I’m really enjoying my time here.
Although I didn’t go to undergrad here, my favorite Marquette memory so far has been meeting the Diederich College of Communication students. Every student I have met has been welcoming, and I’m excited to get to know more people across campus throughout my tenure in the Marquette community.
I am really excited about continuing to build connections at Marquette both within the college and across campus and to continue learning and growing throughout this academic year. Additionally, I’m excited about perfecting my position in the records office. I’m still new, but I love troubleshooting and problem solving. I’ll be a pro by next year!
Outside of academic pursuits, I love to be outside! My husband and I enjoy traveling, camping, and backpacking across the United States. We have the goal of visiting every National Park, and we’ve done 18 together so far. We also love to sail and have a 30 ft. sailboat that we keep on Lake Michigan. Other than being outdoors, we love to go to concerts, live shows, and Brewers games. We also love spending time with our friends on a patio or hitting up a farmer’s market with our family. Milwaukee has so much to offer, and I’ve enjoyed soaking in all the fun!