Voters recognize Chanel Schwenck and Shawn Smee as best faculty and best staff in this year’s “Best Of” survey.
Smee, who serves as the director of recruitment, was awarded best staff by a survey of students. A staff member for almost 23 years, Smee began working at the University shortly after graduating from Murray State.
“I was so surprised to get the email, and what an honor,” Smee said. “I love what I do and I so enjoy helping students get connected to our campus community. There are so many cool things taking place here every day and I love having a front row seat to all this greatness.”
Originally from Missouri, Smee said he was recruited to Murray State by an admissions counselor who helped him foster many connections on campus through her advice and excitement. Now, Smee continues to help students in the same way through his work in student recruitment.
“I tell people all the time, I have the greatest job on campus … I get to carry the banner of Murray State and share about the amazing things taking place daily and the opportunities available for students,” Smee said.
Kendrick Quisenberry, senior associate director of recruitment, said he has known Smee for 14 years, since he served as a student worker in the recruitment office. Quisenberry said he was not surprised at all to hear Smee was nominated for best staff member.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much of a caring boss, coworker and friend Shawn is,” Quinsberry said. “He has left a lasting positive imprint on Murray State University, and I am grateful to have had the chance to work with him over the years. His commitment to the University and its people is unmatched, and his influence has made a significant difference to the campus community.”
Lindsey Conkle, Illinois regional coordinator for recruitment, said she and Smee have known each other since their days as undergraduate students at Murray State. Conkle complimented his enthusiasm for his work and his ability to balance professionalism with a great sense of humor.
Conkle said Smee takes time to connect with every student and their family and that he emphasizes a warm welcome.
“As the director of recruitment, Shawn plays a significant role on campus by truly investing in the future of each prospective student,” Conkle said. “He approaches this role with genuine care and dedication, understanding that the decision to choose a university is a life-changing one for many young individuals.”
Schwenck currently serves as interim department chair for the department of early childhood and elementary education at Murray State. She started her career at Murray State in 2014 after joining as an adjunct professor in the now-closed Woods Hall. In 2017, she joined the doctoral program in education at Murray State and took a lecturer position at Alexander Hall in 2019.
Originally from New Jersey, Schwenck earned her degree in sociology from Rowan University and later obtained her masters in education. Later, she moved to Murray with her family as her husband searched for a new job. After her part-time adjunct professor role, she decided she wanted to work on campus full time, which is what led her to obtaining her doctorate.
“They say that if you find something you love, you don’t work a day in your life,” Schwenck said. “I didn’t have this before teaching. It was a job and it was like a shoe that didn’t quite fit right, but I’d force my foot into it. But then when I started teaching, it’s like that shoe just went right on and it felt good. And every day I put the shoe on, it feels good.”
Now in her current position, Schwenck is responsible for teaching the core classes for early childhood and elementary education. Schwenck said it’s her job to take students early in the program who may be unsure if they want to teach, and either further drive their passion for teaching or assist them on other potential career paths. Schwenck said it is her job to help recruit students and get them out in the community so they can practice teaching.
“I love teaching students early in the program who are excited about their job and all the possibilities that it holds,” Schwenck said. “You can just see it in their eyes, they go out in the schools and they’re like, ‘Wow, I could do this. I could be a teacher’ and that kind of stokes my fire for teaching.”
Outside of teaching, Schwenck also teaches zumba at the wellness center and has served as a judge for Rockathon and All Campus Sing. Schwenck said she likes making connections with students outside of class and getting to know her students on different levels. She said her nomination for this award validates everything she has tried to do to connect to campus students.
Ella Fowley, junior elementary education major, is one student Schwenck has made a connection with. Fowley said knowing Schwenck has made her time at university less stressful, and Schwenck was always willing to help her even outside of class.
“She’s very friendly. I love Dr.Schwenk. There’s nothing bad I can say,” Fowley said. “She is very outgoing. Anytime I have any questions, I can email her and she gets back with me, like super quick, even if it’s a crazy question. She’s always just willing to help.”
Anna Reese, senior elementary education major, is another student impacted by Schwenck’s role as a teacher. Reese talked about the passion and energy Schwenck brings to all of her classes. She said she was thankful to everything Schwenck had done for her and all her other students.
“Doctor Schwenck brings the energy and passion into her college classrooms that not only help us to learn as future educators, but also provides a model for us to implement into our own classrooms, especially regarding student relationships and engagement,” Reese said.
