Staff Spotlight: Lindsay Snyder

August 5, 2022 - Beth Brauer and Jesús Hernandez

Name: Lindsay Snyder

Hometown: Livonia, Mi 

Job title: Assistant director of undergraduate affairs

Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I am a JMC alum! I graduated with a degree in Social Relations (before “policy” was added to the title). I did my related area in urban planning and interned at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development in Lansing.

What do you like most about your role in James Madison?

I love my job because each day – of my almost 15 years here – has been different than the one before. I never quite know what to expect when I walk through the door each day. Students bring exciting news, interesting questions and sometimes heartbreaking problems into my office. I am honored by the opportunity to help them, in both the good times and the bad.

How did you choose a career in higher education?

I didn’t really choose this career path! I started a position in my “dream” field after college graduation, and I quickly realized that it was not going to be a good fit for me long term. I took what I learned through my field experience – that I loved the non-profit environment – and decided to focus my job search on the nonprofit world. I ended up taking a position with an organization that focused on education and public service where I worked almost exclusively with volunteers aged 17-24. In that position, I learned that working with young adults was a great fit for me professionally and the rest is history!

If you did not work with students, what would you be doing?

If I could really do anything, I would have opened a summer camp because some of my fondest memories are from my days as a camper and camp counselor. More realistically, I think my strengths are in planning and creating efficient processes, so I probably would have looked for a career path where I could utilize that skill set.

What do you like to do outside of work that may surprise others?

While I hate baseball, I love going to baseball games – there is something about the atmosphere and being outdoors that I just can’t turn down. My family attends lots of Lansing Lugnuts games each year (just don’t ask me the score!).