Aug. 12, 2024
A few years after graduating from the University of Missouri, Steven Ziegler, B.H.S. ’18, recalled advice he’d received from a mentor on campus.
“Who are you and where do you want to go?”
And Ziegler — who was working for apartment complexes at the time — wanted to be back at Mizzou.
In 2021, he had the opportunity to join MU’s Residential Life staff as senior residence hall coordinator for Hudson Hall. The decision was a no-brainer: he’d been a residence advisor and student coordinator with the Freshman Interest Group (FIG) program during his own undergraduate years and loved the community Mizzou provided.
“Returning to Mizzou felt like coming home,” Ziegler said. “There is a sense of camaraderie. I can easily lean on my coworkers or reach out to my supervisor. Everyone wants you to do well and succeed.”
Now, Ziegler helps new students make their home at Mizzou. He has been the co-chair of the Mizzou Move-In committee for two years. He enjoys the logistical challenge and knows he can rely on his colleagues for support at any time. For him, that level of fellowship is what makes Mizzou special.
“I have never been anywhere else where I’ve felt more comfortable reaching out to people,” Ziegler said. “Everyone does things a little different, so it’s great to holistically know what the need is, but also be able to tailor it to your own leadership style or needs.”
The environment enables Ziegler to build an inclusive and supportive community in which students can thrive. When coordinating training for hall staff, Ziegler helps them create a sense of belonging in the residence halls and develop their own leadership skills.
He’s also been able to focus on his own growth and development. In May 2024, he graduated with a Master of Education in the Department of Leadership and Policy Analysis with an emphasis in higher education. By returning to Mizzou as a graduate student while also being on staff, he was able to take advantage of tuition assistance available to Mizzou employees to help pay for classes.
Working on campus while pursuing his degree has allowed Ziegler to see classroom lessons play out in real life.
“The coursework further cements the ideas and concepts of what I’m working on now, giving me a deeper understanding of Student Affairs and higher education,” he said. “I’m getting a graduate degree in what I love to do.”
And what he loves most is working with students.
“I would not recommend working in this type of job if you didn’t love working with students,” he said. “Being able to be someone for someone else is what motivates me most. No matter what, everything I do revolves around the student experience.”
Three years into his position, Ziegler is now helping the students he first worked with transition into the next phases of their lives. As their mentor, he engages them in conversations about their interests and goals, and a familiar question comes to the forefront.
“Who are you and where do you want to go?”
