By Aaron Alumbaugh, junior
Sept. 11, 2008
A clear desk and open door, the sure sign of an office ready for anything. That describes Allen Eberwein's office.
Eberwein, 27, originally of Alma, Kan., recently joined Friends University as the director of Casado Campus Center and wellness programs and is already rock ’n’ rollin’ to the rhythm at Friends.
After starting work in early August, Eberwein was given the challenge of dealing with incoming freshman during orientation week. Asked if he was overwhelmed by the numerous new challenges, Eberwein said, “No, not yet. … Week of Welcome has a lot of activities back to back -- boom, boom, boom, every night, late nights, early mornings. I wouldn’t have traded it though … I thought it was great.”
Eberwein brings in a wide span of experience. As a May 2008 graduate from Fort Hays State University, Eberwein feels confident in his new role, considering that his degree is a master’s of science in health and human performance with an emphasis in sports administration.
Throughout Eberwein’s experience in college, he continually had to refocus his career goals. After multiple changes of major and four years, Eberwein changed his major to what his degree is now and found what he enjoys and is good at. He is now applying these interests and strengths at Friends.
Eberwein worked as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays for the last two years he attended and near the end began searching for jobs. Coming across the opening he now fills at Casado in Career Builder, Eberwein thought, “Well, that’s something I can see myself doing.”
Eberwein is looking forward to becoming as immersed at Friends as he was at Fort Hays.
“This place is fantastic. The facilities are great. The atmosphere seems like a family type atmosphere where you can walk around campus (and) people know you,” Eberwein said. “I wanted to be somewhere like that. I was kinda sold on it right away.”
Some changes can be expected in Casado and the variety of intramurals that are offered. At time of hire, Eberwein heard only 17 activities were offered. He told himself: “Man! I want to see some more activities offered.”
Eberwein’s goals include a superior and more diverse group of programs that will, he hopes, include everyone and continue to provide “a safe, fun environment.” Nightly activities that include an environment everyone can be comfortable with are part of what Eberwein hopes to provide students. Once such activity he is considering involves various board and card games. He also hopes that this will create a way for students to meet one another.
On a personal level, Eberwein wants the University to know that the door to his first-floor Casado office is open. Anytime anyone wants to talk about anything, Eberwein is ready to listen.
Eberwein describes himself as “kinda like a big teddy bear. I mean, if you need someone to talk to late at night, shoot me an e-mail, give me a call. I will be more than happy to help out in any way I can.”
Eberwein hopes students and staff will see that he is “a guy that’s been in their shoes.” Having tried a bit of everything during his numerous college years, Eberwein hopes the experience will allow him to better connect with each person he meets.
“There’s nothing wrong with trying something new,” he said. “If you try it once and you don’t like it, at least you can say you tried it. ... To me, the main thing in life is to find that one thing, or maybe many things that you enjoy doing every day and doing it to the best of your ability. That’s what life is all about.”
Eberwein thinks that he is fulfilling this at Friends. He enjoys his work -- so much so, that when waking in the morning his initial thought is: “Man, I want to get up. I’m looking forward to going to work today