It’s not too common to find married couples working together for the same employer. Those scenarios usually only happen in television shows and movies, but for Jared and Bree Meier, spending time together both at work and at home sheds a new light on married couples working together. In certain aspects, it makes them the Jim and Pam of Mesa State College. Not only do Jared and Bree work on campus, they are also both Mesa State graduates who met during their freshman year of college. Jared is the Director of Admissions, and Bree is the Director of Student Life. During their time at Mesa State both Meiers were involved in numerous organizations and activities that have helped prepare them for their jobs. Working in the admissions office, Jared has a variety of tasks and duties. His education at Mesa State has helped him along the way. He graduated in 2004 with a business degree with concentrations in marketing and management. “As a student I was an ambassador and I worked at admissions for four years. I found that I enjoyed that type of work. A lot of the skills I developed as a student apply to the work I do in admissions,” said Jared. Along with Jared, Bree credits her education at Mesa State for helping prepare her for her job. Bree graduated in 2005 with a degree in Computer Information Systems. During her time as a student, Bree was apart of the Cultural Diversity Board, Polynesian Club, and the President of AITP. Upon graduation both Jared and Bree had to make a decision on what their next step would be. Both ultimately made the decision to stay in Grand Junction. “I was looking at a sports marketing internship in Denver, but before graduation I got offered a job as a part-time student, part-time admissions counselor. I weighed my options and accepted the job at admissions,” Jared said. Like Jared, Bree decided to stay in the place that she had called home for the past four years. However, her decision was not solely based on potential opportunities, but also on a specific person. During their time in the MBA program Jared and Bree began dating. Her decision to stay in Grand Junction away from her native Hawaii was partially based her relationship with her future husband. The decision showed to be a good one, as Bree soon got a job at Mesa State. “Mesa opened up opportunities. New doors kept opening,” Bree said. “I worked my way up and kept challenging myself.” Jared sums up his job in one word: dynamic. “To watch students go through a major changing part of their life, I get a lot of satisfaction from that,” Jared said. Bree characterized her job as, “Energetic and satisfying. I have one of the top five funnest jobs on campus. [Students] are always teaching me things, as well as me helping them succeed,” she said. Being alumni of Mesa State, Bree and Jared have formed a loyalty to the campus, and have said it’s easy to pass on that loyalty and sense of pride to the students that they work with daily. “We feel fortunate for the opportunities and to be apart of the direction we’re heading,” Jared said. “It’s rewarding and exciting. Mesa State gave us our first employment opportunities.” In both the admissions office and working in student life, Jared and Bree Meier are helping students with whatever they can, and working towards making the college that they love even better for current and future students. acastro@mesastate.edu