WilliamsProfile of Emily DeLanoFebruary 26, 2014

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Some people go their whole life dreaming of a brighter future yet not putting in the work to get there. Emily DeLano, leadership and service coordinator for Oakland University, is a testament that hard work and a positive attitude pays off. She believes that students should “try everything” in the process of figuring out what they like and don’t like, because those experiences could help them get ahead of their peers.

For a year, Emily has been happily working for the Center for Student Activities doing a host of different things such as volunteer programs, overseeing the CSA leadership consultant program, and being an advisor to alternative spring break.

Leadership Consultant, Carin Inglis, says that it’s not difficult to tell that Emily loves her job. “She is inspirational because she puts all of her efforts into serving a greater purpose unselfishly,” she said. “She makes others want to be better leaders.”

Dealing with angry customers as a waitress and running a vending machine company that required her to lift heavy boxes that ruined her back, were two of the worst jobs Emily says she has had, but she always looked at them as positives that would get her one step closer to her goals.

Through past jobs, she learned to respond to certain situations much better. “All of the jobs in my past have taught me so much,” Emily said. “So every job is good.”

Throughout her life experiences, she realized that people were sometimes rude but killing them with kindness was always the best route, and that’s the exact attitude she kept with her in everyday life.

“I really believe that ‘to whom much is given little, and if they’re responsible with it they’ll be given much,’” Emily said. “Even if you have a job as a waitress, be the best waitress there is. Your boss will notice and give you a phenomenal reference.”

She graduated from Siena Heights University with a bachelor’s in Communication and Business, but had a different career in mind. “I thought that I was going to do a hundred different things,” she said. “I was planning to go to grad school for counseling but realized I liked working in higher education so I pursued a master’s in that.”

One day she hopes to teach communication to students but for now, she says she is happy where she is because the OU staff is so “down-to-earth” and the variety that her job offers makes every day different.

“Emily is a motivated individual who sets clear goals for both her work and personal life,” said student volunteer Jorge Garcia. “She definitely cares about the student employees she oversees as well as the projects she heads.

Describing herself as a “business kid”, Emily would always create different events and games for people when she was younger. “I had this show called ‘The Circus Show’ where the kids would dress as animals and play different games,” Emily said. “I would charge the parents an entry fee and make them pay for the popcorn that they made themselves.”

Graduate assistant for leadership and service learning, Cortney Scott, says it’s great working with Emily because she strives to be the best and not for individual accolades. “Her work ethic is one thing I admire about her. I think we both work over and above our pay grade but we love what we do so we look at helping students as more than a job.”

Emily says that students should try joining an organization, participating in alternative spring break or a service event, because students never know the connections they could make or the people they could network with from these experiences.

Being the caring person that many of her colleagues claim her to be, Emily likes to help others in need. If she had the power to do anything she wanted, she says she would rid the world of selfishness which she believes would solve all issues.

When Emily isn’t busy enjoying her days at work, she likes to stay active by going rock climbing, working on arts and crafts projects, and spending time outdoors. She also likes to travel and dreams of one day traveling to Europe.

The CSA encourages students to join one or more of OU’s many organizations, and participate in community outreach opportunities that will not only get students involved on campus but also help them become better leaders.

Upcoming events by the CSA include Ruth Ellis Center, OUCares, Family Fun day, and plenty of other ways for students to connect with OU and make a difference.

The Center for Student Activities is located on the lower level of the Oakland Center and open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. For more information, visit the CSA or contact Emily DeLano at Delano@oakland.edu.