School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Administrative Program Specialist Kaycee Headley joined the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State in 2011 after serving as a practice manager and front office assistant for an orthopedic surgeon in Salem, OR.
What does your job entail?
“I work as part of a team to provide administrative support to the school. My work is focused on graduate students, primarily in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). I work closely with the HDFS graduate committee and the Graduate School to move students through the program. I also work closely with the Health Sciences Business Center to appoint Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) in HDFS, Health Promotion and Health Behavior and Health Management and Policy.”
What do you wish others knew about your job?
“I wish more people knew about how strong the HDFS program is at OSU. Our faculty, students and alumni are highly respected in their field and the program is emerging as one of the top in the nation. It’s really exciting to be a part of. I hope that being a part of an accredited College of Public Health and Human Sciences will bring increased visibility to the program.”
What do you enjoy most about your job?
“I often tell people that I think I have the best job at OSU because I get to work with wonderful people. I believe that people who choose to study the human sciences do so because they have a genuine desire to make the world a better place to live. The staff, faculty and students I work with are kind and supportive. I also feel really fortunate to work on this amazing campus surrounded by art and music. It truly is a wonderland.”
What is the best advice you ever received, and who gave it?
“My dad taught me to always have a towel in the car, and that has proved incredibly useful. A former employer once said, ‘People have a tendency to do the best they can do, given their circumstances.’ That has stuck with me, and I think it has helped me to look for the good in others.”
What advice would you like to give to students and young alums?
“Your degree will open doors. As you walk through them, don’t forget to bring common sense, tolerance, manners and compassion – and to hold the door open for others behind you.”
What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?
“I’m pretty much an open book – but I do think that because I enjoy watching sports and staying somewhat active, people assume that I have athletic abilities. This is not the case. I’m not going to win medals in anything, but I want to collect as many participation ribbons as possible.”
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
“My daughter is a senior in high school so my husband and I are busy trying to keep up with her activities. In the winter months, I am a ‘Robotics Mom.’ I also love to forage and gather wild food like berries, mushrooms, clams and crab. I like to watch football and baseball. I’m active in ESA International, which is a service and philanthropic organization. We have a new lab puppy that keeps us busy.”