Natasha House, Assistant Director of Student Success and Engagement, Office of Career Services

Two years (start date - December 13, 2023)

As a Career Services Coordinator, my primary responsibility is to assist students with identifying meaningful career opportunities within their major, toward the fulfillment of their co-op requirements.  In doing so, this includes helping to facilitate career fairs and employer engagement that builds relationships with our many employer partners.  My specific student cluster is in the Saunders College of Business so the disciplines or programs I currently support are Finance, Accounting, Marketing, MIS, Hospitality as well as Organizational Leadership and TIME.  In addition to supporting those disciplines, I am also a support for our 20+ Affinity Groups campus wide in their event planning and other endeavors.  In my spare time, I’m also one of the advisors for NSBE, a group that’s near and dear to my heart.

One word: students. I attended an HBCU and intentionally chose an environment where my peers looked like me, which deeply shaped my own undergraduate experience. Now, as an employee at RIT, my purpose is to support all students while also serving as meaningful representation for those who share my lived experience. When students find value in my presence, my encouragement, or my guidance at any point in their academic journey, I feel genuinely fulfilled.

I graduated with a BS in mathematics from Clark Atlanta University, and STEM has always been a passion of mine. Unfortunately, my school did not offer a co-op program, so when graduation approached, I felt unprepared and completely unsure of my next steps. It was 1997 when I became licensed in Property and Casualty insurance in New York state and have maintained that license for 28 uninterrupted years through ongoing education.

Despite that longevity, I eventually reached a point in my insurance career where I felt unfulfilled. Ironically, during my busiest claims season, a colleague encouraged me to volunteer in a classroom through Junior Achievement. I reluctantly agreed but that small investment of time planted a seed that caused me to shift my entire career focus. It opened my eyes to my true calling in education.

I explored elementary education and worked as a substitute teacher in both the Rochester City and Rush-Henrietta School Districts, but I soon realized that higher education was where I belonged. Supporting students at such a formative stage (when they are invested, focused, and actively shaping their futures) is where I truly thrive.

I experienced a period of joblessness while figuring out my path, and because of that journey, I’m passionate about helping students find meaningful opportunities where they arrive at the best fit for their skill and expertise. It took me years to find my purpose, and now I can guide them toward theirs. I absolutely LOVE the work I get to do!

Students often wonder – do I have what it takes?  How will I work at a company when I am just getting started and have only had a few classes?  What are the ways I can stand out?  When and where do I begin the process of networking when I don’t have a network?

I teach the Careers in Business course for Saunders students, and my goal is to equip them with the tools and resources they need to successfully manage their own job search, long after their time here at RIT. Landing a co-op is merely the beginning. My intention isn’t to just give them “fish,” but to instead teach them how to fish. In other words, my desire is for students to confidently navigate the job market and advocate for themselves; not only in their careers, but in life.

I’ve become well known in Saunders for reminding every student that your network is your net worth. Beyond learning how to navigate the job market, I want students to also appreciate the extraordinary value of people. There is nothing more meaningful than the individuals you encounter throughout your life.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Life is not about the end destination, but who you become along the way.” Every person you meet becomes part of the beautiful tapestry of your journey, shaping who you are and who you will become. The value of those relationships far exceeds any dollar amount you could possibly place on material things.

Nothing, to me, is more valuable than the people you meet. So, when I say your network is your net worth, it’s because I genuinely feel wealthy-definitely not because of the salary I earn- but because of the incredible people I’ve encountered throughout my life.

I believe strongly that Black history should be celebrated not just during Black History Month, but every single day of the year. Our history cannot be confined to one month;  it is a living, breathing narrative that continues to shape our culture, our communities, and our collective future. That’s why I’m working to develop a podcast that celebrates pioneering women (both past and present) whose stories deserve to be told. Too often, we focus on the same familiar figures, overlooking the thousands of emerging and contemporary voices who are equally deserving of recognition. Honoring these women provides the representation that fuels success for people of color; it builds pride, fosters respect, and sustains the legacy and culture that continue to empower future generations.

Role models for me are – Ava DuVernay, Naomi Osaka, Misty Copeland, Sarah Rector, Lupita Nyong’o, Cynthia Marshall, Collette V. Smith, Indra Nooyi, Ruth Carter, Sahle-Work Zewde, Ruby Bridges, Ursula Burns, Janet Lomax, Fatimat O. Reid, my mom, Margaret Finch and every unsung SHE-ro who ever emerged as the first to complete milestones in male and pale dominated industries.  This doesn’t even scratch the surface; there’s no way I could ever name them all but trailblazers inspire me!  (If those names aren’t familiar to you, stay tuned for my podcast!!)

Love is Blind.

Inputting deaths and birth certificates for OUR TOWNS (a section of the Democrat & Chronicle) newspaper.

Grapes, tortilla chips, chocolate covered peanuts; chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered chocolate.

I am very intrigued by archery so if I had more time, I would take a class!

Kobe Bryant.

I attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.  I remember late night studying and being the “fun” lenient RA who gave students grace when they got locked out after curfew.  I remember learning how to type fast because I was always waiting until the last minute to type papers.  I remember taking Friday night trips to Morehouse with my homegirls searching for good-looking guys.  I vividly recall being on the STEP team as a freshman, meeting Chaka Zulu who taught our Merner Hall team how to step and ultimately WIN the controversial Freshman Dorm competition among rival dormitories.  Chaka eventually became the manager & business partner for a rapper who goes by the name Ludacris.

I remember attending a mass communications school where tv/film celebrities like Webster and Spike Lee were often seen on campus. I briefly met Rebecca De Mornay while in an elevator in Phipps Mall.  Mostly l remember being in a town where it was customary to say hello and greet all passers-by, whether you knew them or not. I miss Southern hospitality so much!

My favorite hideouts are the pier at Charlotte Beach and Canandaigua Lake – near the Lake House.

That I didn’t have my FIRST alcoholic beverage until I was 40 years old.

rit.edu/aes

2 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623  

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