This August, we’re spotlighting Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs Kyle Einck. Kyle oversees the Biological Sciences and Information Systems Bachelor’s Degree programs, along with ten post-bacc programs and several additional certificates and concentrations.
How long have you worked here? How did you come to higher education?
I joined SPS in 2018, initially serving on the enrollment advising team until 2022. Currently, I am part of the undergraduate academic team. My career in higher education began in 2014 at my alma mater, Simpson College in Indianola, IA where I was a member of the admissions team that focused on high school recruitment.
Describe a “Day in the Life.”
I start every morning with a cuppa of Lipton Black tea where I add way too much milk and sugar. I then begin my workday by checking and responding to any unanswered emails. Next, I consult my trusty Trello to-do board to review and prioritize my tasks for the day and the rest of the week. Throughout the day, I balance project work with in-person or Zoom meetings and respond to messages from SPS colleagues on Teams.
What I do during my lunch break depends on whether I’m in the office or working from home. In the office, I always try to get some outside time while the weather is nice, either going for a walk or reading a book. On work-from-home days, I usually walk my dog and might fit in a quick run or practice on my drum set. After I get off work around 5 pm, I am usually in bed by 5:01 pm (just kidding–kinda).
What’s something about your job that might surprise readers?
When I boil it down, my primary responsibility in academics is to ensure that classes, and the faculty that teach them, are assigned and are operating smoothly. However, unlike other jobs I’ve had where success or failure hinges solely on my efforts, this role depends significantly on the decisions and motivations of others, which requires a lot of trust at times.
What’s your favorite resource or tool that not many people know about?
I mentioned it in my day-in-life segment, but I thoroughly enjoy using Trello to organize my work life. As someone who loves listing tasks and the satisfaction of crossing them off, it’s great to have everything electronically instead of in the notebooks I used to use. I still get the satisfaction of moving a task from “To-do” to “Done,” and I’m now saving trees in the process.
What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had? Did it give you any interesting takeaways?
During a brief period when I lived in New York, I applied on Craigslist and was hired as a door-to-door salesman. My job was to convince people they would save money by switching their current energy provider to a company called “Kiwi Energy.” After just three days, I quit. I started questioning the legitimacy of the company, especially after they gave me a badge that labeled me as a state agent, a qualification I definitely didn’t have. Additionally, I had about 100 doors slammed in my face and faced several interrogations about my true intentions, with many people suspecting it was a scam (which it might have been). I then spent the rest of my time in New York selling women’s shoes at Bloomingdale’s, all the while coming to terms with the fact that I belong in the Midwest.
In other exciting news, Kyle got engaged earlier this summer!
