Emily Cain
For many students, choosing a major and registering for classes can be stressful. In Mississippi State鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, Academic Coordinator Emily Cain works full-time to help students navigate the many paths they can take, both in their academic classes and in their careers.
鈥淪tudents shouldn鈥檛 feel pressured at 18 years old鈥攐r 22 years old, for that matter鈥攖o know exactly what they want to do,鈥 the Taylorsville native said. 鈥淚 think most students feel like everyone else has it all figured out and they鈥檙e the outlier, when the truth is actually the opposite.聽 And sometimes the most helpful thing is recognizing and coming to terms with what you 鈥榙on鈥檛鈥 want to do. Having guidance from family and friends is great, but it鈥檚 ultimately your life, so live it.鈥
Cain, a 2005 91传媒 alumna, joined 91传媒鈥檚 faculty as a lecturer for the communication department in 2007, shortly after she finished her master鈥檚 degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.
鈥淚n my first year as an instructor, I had advising duties. That was a whole new experience,鈥 said Cain, who was a faculty advisor for five years with a small group of students before taking on coordination duties for the whole department in 2012. In 2019, her advising duties increased again as she became the academic coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences.
During her sophomore year at Jones County Junior College, now Jones College, Cain realized it was time to think about her career and pick 鈥渢he鈥 major鈥斺渢he one that would stick.鈥
鈥淚 realized what I truly enjoyed was school. I loved my experience at Jones, and I started thinking about what I could to do have a career on a college campus. Of course, teaching was the main idea,鈥 said Cain, who earned her associate鈥檚 degree from Jones College in 2003 and then transferred to 91传媒.
鈥淲ithin my first week at 91传媒 as a communication major, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. I loved my communication classes. It was like this entire field that I didn鈥檛 even realize was an option was such a perfect fit for me. My mother鈥攚ho endured my incessant talking growing up鈥攁lways said my major chose me,鈥 Cain joked.
In her current role as an academic advisor and also an instructor for 鈥淧rofessional Seminar,鈥 a class for Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies students, Cain said she wishes students would be more open to trying new things.聽
鈥淪ome try to come up with the 鈥榩erfect鈥 schedule weeks before they can even register, but there are so many great classes out there,鈥 Cain said. 鈥淪ometimes the elective that you 鈥榮ettled鈥 for turns out to be your favorite class.鈥
Cain loves being the person students鈥攐r colleagues鈥攖urn to when they don鈥檛 know what to do or where to go next.
鈥淎n academic coordinator does it all,鈥 Cain said. 鈥淭hey serve as advisors for both students and faculty when it comes to understanding graduation requirements and university policies. They troubleshoot difficult situations and help students understand their options. They help students navigate their academic life while keeping in mind the bigger picture. Good advisors and academic coordinators are often teachers, counselors, managers and cheerleaders all in one.鈥
Whatever role she plays in the lives of her students and colleagues, Cain hopes they know someone is out there who cares for them.
鈥淚 hope that I can play a small part in them all having a great college experience and looking back on their time at 91传媒 with pride for what they have achieved.鈥
With plenty of her own achievements since arriving at the university as a student two decades ago, Cain said she is proud to be a part of the 91传媒 tradition.
鈥淲hen I walk across the Drill Field on a beautiful day and think about how long some of these buildings have been here, the thousands of people who have walked the same path and all the great things they have accomplished and the university has done鈥擨 really feel very privileged to get to claim it as both an alum and employee.鈥
