While an undergraduate at Robert Morris University, Zach Kaiser worked as a resident assistant. He found inspiration watching his supervisors make meaningful impacts in the lives of his peers. The experience shaped his interest in pursuing a career in higher education.
Zach Kaiser preparing for his graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his master’s degree in higher education management.
After receiving his master’s degree in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh, Kaiser landed his first professional role as a residential life coordinator at Florida International University.
At Robert Morris, Kaiser was a member of Phi Mu Delta. That experience prepared him to join Union last summer.
As assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Kaiser works with the four sororities and seven fraternities that are a part of the College’s rich history with the Greek system.
“My goal in every student interaction is for them to walk away knowing they have someone advocating for them and that I am going to do my best to make sure they are taken care of,” he said.
Originally from Ohio, Kaiser makes his home in Schenectady.
FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:
Definitely TikTok. My friends seem to send me hundreds of TikToks to watch overnight, so I spend my mornings catching up on what I have missed.
ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MULTIPLE TIMES:
Just one? That is tough. One that I can always revisit is “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. Any time I pick it up, I get something different from it. Though it was published in 1953, there are many parallels to society today, which I find interesting.
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:
One of the Student Affairs pros that I looked up to as an undergrad was John Locke, director of Student Activities and Leadership Development. He once told me, “The best way to start is to start.” Though simple, that advice truly impacted the way I approach so many things. Often when we have something to do that makes us anxious, we put it off and procrastinate. There is nothing wrong with a little procrastination. I do it, too, but you have to start somewhere. There is always time to make changes and improvements. You just need to begin!
FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS:
The outdoor landing by the Henle Dance Pavilion. It has a beautiful view of Jackson's Garden. It is a great place to sit and relax.
GO-TO BREAKFAST:
Do not tell my doctor, but I hardly eat breakfast. If I do, it is usually a quick smoothie or an iced vanilla chai and a bagel.
NETFLIX OR AMAZON:
I am going with Netflix on this one, though Netflix has been stepping up its game with originals like “Modern Love” and “Upload.” I enjoy “The 100,” “Black Mirror” and “Friends from College.”
FAVORITE PODCAST:
This is not necessarily a podcast, however, one of my favorite musicians is Jon Bellion. He has some Youtube videos showing the behind-the-scenes makings of his music. I definitely suggest checking those out.
ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:
I can read and sort of write in Spanish, but I wish I felt more comfortable speaking it. I lost much of what I knew from taking classes. I have a deep appreciation for the language and culture, and hope to continue learning and practicing in the future.
BEST PART OF YOUR DAY:
Spending countless hours on FaceTime with my best friend Kouryn, who is in Dayton, Ohio. Most of the time we do not even talk, we just set our phones up and hang out. It is as if we are in the same room even though we are about 700 miles apart.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU:
I love all things that have to do with music. Specifically, I am a big fan of musical theater. I am playing Flick in Schenectady Light Opera Company's upcoming production of “Violet” in early May. Come check it out!