Andrea Cordray has a file full of contacts any executive would envy. Accountants, bankers, consultants and marketers – they’re all on her list. As student support and outreach coordinator, she makes the connections that keep the College of Business (COB) ahead of the curve.
College of Business Student Support and Outreach Coordinator Andrea Cordray. Photo by Alex Sakes.
From her Woodard Hall office, Cordray has a spreadsheet of responsibilities. She takes care of new programming and event planning, handles communications and career services, manages alumni relations and mentorship programs, and takes on the COB’s Women in Business and Executive-in-Residence programs, as well as the Pre-Business Living Learning Community and Women’s Leadership Colloquium @ UMW.
In her free time (ahem), Cordray turns her attention to Mary Washington’s strongest asset, its students, introducing them to the movers-and-shakers – alumni, community members and more – who can jumpstart careers.
“I work in a place where at the end of the day I know that I’ve made an impact, and it’s tangible,” she said. “A student works hard and lands her dream job … How cool is that?!”
Q: What are some of the best things about being a student support and outreach coordinator?
A: I’ve been able to build meaningful relationships with students, faculty, alumni and businesses within the community. My job changes with their needs. Having the trust from my supervisors that allows me to create, assess and modify programming to better serve our constituency, is a perk in itself.
Q: What’s the most difficult part of being a student support and outreach coordinator?
A: It can be challenging to juggle and prioritize everything at certain times of the year. We have a great team of people here in the COB, and it’s part of our culture to ask each other for help when necessary. It feels good to know that we have each other’s backs.
Q: What’s one of your proudest on-the-job accomplishments?
A: Our first annual business alumni awards in October took us years to develop. To see it come to fruition and become a tremendous success was incredible. It connected alumni, students and faculty from across the university, as well as retired business faculty. That night opened a new and significant chapter for our college and the university.
Q: Any funny job-related stories to share?
A: Last semester, I ordered a pizza for one of our events on the wrong day. It was one day earlier than the original event date! I turned it into an opportunity to get out from behind my desk and create an impromptu meet-and-greet with our students in Woodard Hall. Of course, I shared the pizza!
Q: Do you have a motto you live by?
A: Taped to my computer screen is a quote from Erma Bombeck: “If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it.” This quote came in handy when I ordered pizza on the wrong day!
We are lucky to have you Andrea! and I love your can do attitude on everything you interact with here at UMW!