Students befriend president
Down to earth
Rikki Saldivar
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News
Often in college, students are lucky if their professors remember their name, yet this past week, the president of Central campus took time to meet with students on a one-on-one basis.
Neil Matkin visited with students in the Student Success Center and listened to their stories about their homes, majors and feelings of being students at SJC.
"It's not about me; it's about the college," Matkin said. "A lot of the reasons I was excited and decided to do this is because of the Student Success Center. Students can come for help, tutoring and just encouragement. I met all the staff that were here today, and guess what? They're all people who want to help other people."
"[Matkin] isn't talking down to anyone like 'I'm the president'," student Yuvraj Malhotra said. "I think he's doing a really good job."
"He was joking with the students and really made them feel comfortable," Dora Trevino, student success center counselor, said. "He asked them about themselves, what they were studying, what countries they were from, and he tried to relate."
As students filed into the center to grab refreshments, many were surprised the president of the campus calmly stood in a group of students laughing and listening to each one.
"I believe strongly that he should come out into the public more often," Lorena Cantu, student, said. "He can get around to where students will really know who he is and that he's out there to listen to them and their needs. I've been here close to three years and have never spoken to a president. As soon as I found out that he was here, I made my way over to speak with him."
Matkin spoke to students about his college experience, which interested students who had similar experiences.
"He seems really nice and down to earth, making jokes and stuff," Cindy Rivas, math tutor, said. "This is the first time we've had a president come down and talk to students. It gives more of a homey-touch. Even he was a math tutor and listening to his background is interesting. It pushes me that maybe I can be a president of a college too."
Although the meeting was only an hour long and many students left for classes, there was a certain buzz amongst the students in the center that took the time to talk to Matkin and tell them about themselves.
"Students were able to leave with a comfortable feeling that they could speak to him as a person versus an administrator," Trevino said.
"There's an enthusiasm for San Jac," Matkin said. "I met a student from Honduras, a student from India and the young lady who is a graduate and works here while she works on a literature degree.
"I'm excited about the enthusiasm here. It's contagious and everyone feels it, students and faculty alike. I love this, especially the students who are engaged and the question is how do we get more students engaged in activities."
Neil Matkin visited with students in the Student Success Center and listened to their stories about their homes, majors and feelings of being students at SJC.
"It's not about me; it's about the college," Matkin said. "A lot of the reasons I was excited and decided to do this is because of the Student Success Center. Students can come for help, tutoring and just encouragement. I met all the staff that were here today, and guess what? They're all people who want to help other people."
"[Matkin] isn't talking down to anyone like 'I'm the president'," student Yuvraj Malhotra said. "I think he's doing a really good job."
"He was joking with the students and really made them feel comfortable," Dora Trevino, student success center counselor, said. "He asked them about themselves, what they were studying, what countries they were from, and he tried to relate."
As students filed into the center to grab refreshments, many were surprised the president of the campus calmly stood in a group of students laughing and listening to each one.
"I believe strongly that he should come out into the public more often," Lorena Cantu, student, said. "He can get around to where students will really know who he is and that he's out there to listen to them and their needs. I've been here close to three years and have never spoken to a president. As soon as I found out that he was here, I made my way over to speak with him."
Matkin spoke to students about his college experience, which interested students who had similar experiences.
"He seems really nice and down to earth, making jokes and stuff," Cindy Rivas, math tutor, said. "This is the first time we've had a president come down and talk to students. It gives more of a homey-touch. Even he was a math tutor and listening to his background is interesting. It pushes me that maybe I can be a president of a college too."
Although the meeting was only an hour long and many students left for classes, there was a certain buzz amongst the students in the center that took the time to talk to Matkin and tell them about themselves.
"Students were able to leave with a comfortable feeling that they could speak to him as a person versus an administrator," Trevino said.
"There's an enthusiasm for San Jac," Matkin said. "I met a student from Honduras, a student from India and the young lady who is a graduate and works here while she works on a literature degree.
"I'm excited about the enthusiasm here. It's contagious and everyone feels it, students and faculty alike. I love this, especially the students who are engaged and the question is how do we get more students engaged in activities."
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