Name:   Heather Eckstein
Name of College: Pittsburg State University
Position @ College:
          Assoc. Director of Admin. & Enrollment Services
Held Position since: 2001
Positions held in your professional experience:
          Assistant Director of Admission, 1999-2001
          Senior Admission Counselor, 1997-1999
          Admission Counselor, 1996-1997
          Transfer Coordinator, 1995-1996
Contact Info:
          1701 South Broadway
          Pittsburg, KS 66762
          1-800-854-7488 or 620-235-4265
          E-mail:  heckstei@pittstate.edu
Education:
         MS, Pittsburg State University, 2001
         BA, Pittsburg State University, 1994
         AA, Butler County Community College, 1991

2006-2007
Local Arrangements Chair

Heather Eckstein

Positions Held/Committees served in KACRAO:
          Local Arrangements Chair, 2006-2007
          KACRAO Treasurer, 2004-2005
          Past President/Awards and Accolades Committee, 2003-2004
          KACRAO President, 2002-2003
          President-elect/Program Chair, 2001-2002
          Vice President for Admission, 2000-2001
          Secretary, 1999-2000
          Scholarship Chairperson, 1998-1999
          Planning for College Sub-committee Chairperson, 1997-1998
          Membership Committee, 1996-1997

What have been your favorite memories of being a member of KACRAO?
          My first KACRAO in Lawrence in 1995 provided a great opportunity for me as a new professional to meet colleagues from other colleges in Kansas. What I didn’t realize at the time was that those people were going to be more than just colleagues, they were going to be mentors and friends. It is the people who I have met through KACRAO that provide my favorite memories. Those people, like Neal Hoelting (WSU), Joel Keller (formerly at HCC), MargE Shelley (JCCC), and Lynnette Brummett (KSU), were the ones that I went to dinner with while on the road, grabbed a ride with to fairs in western Kansas, called with questions about this or that, and was excited to see when we all got together at the annual conference.
           As I became more involved in the leadership of KACRAO, I was extremely lucky to be following great leaders like Joey Linn (FHSU), Diane Barnes (WSU) and others who were (and still are) role models and whose opinions I value very much.

How has KACRAO assisted you in your professional development?
           I have grown-up as a professional through my membership in KACRAO. My view of the admission/registrar world was very limited when I first began at Pitt State. As I worked with people from other colleges, I began to realize that my job was more than convincing students to attend PSU. My job became my career (an important distinction), and my goal was to assist students in seeing the value of continuing their education. KACRAO serves as a reminder that we all have the same ultimate goal—assisting students in meeting their goals—educationally, professionally and personally.

What is your advice to your fellow KACRAO members and colleagues new to the profession?
           Love what you do! That is the best advice I could give to anyone. If you do love it, then being involved in the professional organizations (like KACRAO) is the next important step in career development. Staying involved is also a challenge—continuing to provide your expertise to benefit the profession even after you have served KACRAO at the highest levels is important.