Aces of Trades: Kalinoski finds home at Denison leading student volunteers
GRANVILLE – Sometimes you end up in just the right place, even though it wasn’t the plan. Susie Kalinoski, for instance, grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina, the daughter of a pastor. “My faith was always important to me,” she explained, “and I felt a call to service at a very early age.”
Consequently, she had plans to go to the seminary – until.
“I went to Charleston Southern University,” she continued, “where I majored in psychology and I planned on going to the seminary to major in social work. But I met my future (now) husband during our last semester on campus and plans changed.”
The two married soon after college. She went to work in the mental health field while she worked toward a master’s degree. Then she gave birth to their first child, which meant, she said, “Plans changed once again.”
They moved to Dayton where she had their second child. More moves followed. They welcomed their third child. Then they relocated “one more time” to Granville.
After staying home for 16 years, Kalinoski decided to re-enter the workplace, becoming the program coordinator at Licking County Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Then, after a few years she took a position at Denison University, working with the Denison Community Association. It’s a student-led, student-run organization made up of more than 500 student volunteers who contribute more than 20,000 service hours a year to the community, the vast majority in Licking County. Kalinoski is now the associate director.
“I was drawn to the position,” she said, “for the opportunity to work with these remarkable students. They really are the story!”
“Volunteering to work on the line at a food kitchen,” she continued, “is important and soulful work.”
“These compassionate young adults,” she further explained, “with overflowing schedules, are just now venturing out away from the nest. Yet they volunteer their time, extraordinary talents, leadership, bright enthusiasm, hard work and teambuilding skills in creating great feats of service to others in need.”
“Susie sees the humanity behind each individual,” assessed Matthew Vetter, the current director of Denison’s Alford Center, the campus organization that oversees the Denison Community Association, “and she doesn’t hesitate to take action by bringing people together. Her role connecting students to areas of need in Licking County has touched thousands, if not tens-of-thousands, of local families and community members.”
“What singularly stands out to me,” Kalinoski responded, “is being able to engage such an extraordinary group of people, who consistently move on after graduation to lead lives of great impact and accomplishment.”
“My life is forever changed for the better,” she added, “as a result of the many amazing students I’ve been so lucky to get to know.”
“I truly love my job!” she concluded. “I really do feel blessed this has been my call – in sort of an unexpected way!”
For more
Alford Community Leadership & Involvement Center is located in the Slayter Hall Student Union on the Denison University campus. For more information, call 740-587-6639.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at advocate@newarkadvocate.com or 740-328-8821.