Student Affairs staff help MCC students find their footing
For the first weeks of the fall semester, Jakyah Perkins made a two-hour drive to Meridian Community College every day. She was waiting on a spot to open in student housing.
The 19-year-old sophomore from Vicksburg wasn't about to let the commute derail her plan to become a respiratory care practitioner.
"I wanted to come to MCC because I heard they had a great respiratory care program," Perkins said.
The wait also gave her a closer look at the people who work behind the scenes at MCC to help students through problems that could otherwise get in the way of their education.
That work is the focus of Careers in Student Affairs Month, a national observance each October that recognizes student affairs professionals and encourages others to consider the field.
At MCC, Student Affairs covers advising, student success, accessibility, housing, student activities, wellness, campus safety and other services that support students outside the classroom.
For Perkins, housing was the big one. Ellie Winter Williams, interim director of Housing and Student Activities, and Cody Wood, lead coordinator for Housing and Student Services, kept in touch with her while she was on the waitlist and walked her through the process.
"They were a great help when it came to my situation with housing," Perkins said. "They continued to support and encourage me throughout the process, which helped me stay motivated."
Knowing someone was keeping her updated made the drive easier to take.
"Even though the situation was difficult, their support and communication helped me
remain positive and focused on my education," she said. "I truly appreciate the time
and effort they put into helping me with my housing situation and making my transition
to campus easier." 
Sophomore Tristin Jones has felt that support, too.
Jones, 20, is from Pass Christian and is studying University Transfer-Business. He came to MCC to run Track and Field and said the people and the sense of community have shaped his time here.
When he found a problem with the shower in his residence hall room, Williams, along with Wood made sure it got fixed and kept checking in until it was.
"I'm grateful for the many things Miss Ellie and the other housing directors – including Cody Wood and Ami Thompson, (Elliott Hall residential hall director) - have done for us."
He said that kind of attention isn't limited to housing.
"My MCC experience has been great mostly due to the community and the people," he said. "There is always a leader or a hardworking person on campus trying to make the community better."
Visit meridiancc.edu/studentlife for more information.