Do you enjoy playing sports or video games in your free time? Do you prefer working independently or with others? How important is your mental and physical health to you? Meet Gehrig Burnett, who’s the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Western New England University! During this spotlight interview, you’ll learn more about teamwork, education, and his overall experience working with students spanning from high school to college. Be sure to pay close attention to what Gehrig Burnett has to share with us, and how he would define “success”.
Meet Gehrig Burnett!
Q: What’s a fun or unique fact about you? What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies, passions, unknown talents, or special interests? If so, what are they?
“A fun fact is that I was named after legendary New York Yankees player Lou Gehrig. My fathers side have been big Yankees fans, especially when my family migrated to NY, and they thought Gehrig would be a cool name! In my free time, I love going to the beach, going out to eat, playing golf, hanging with friends and watching sports. I also enjoy playing some video games when I have the time.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: Did you join any extracurriculars when you were younger? Any after school clubs, organizations, programs, or sports in the past? If so, explain.
“When I was younger I was all about sports. I played just about everything – baseball, football, basketball, soccer. In terms of school programs, I loved being involved in our school’s National Honors Society as we got to do a lot of good charity work to help people in the community.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: Do you have any notable achievements or awards that you’ve received in the past?
“One of my top achievements is that I graduated high school as the 6th in my class, and was voted most likely to succeed by my peers (and also best eyes!) I did win a lot of championships growing up, but I was best at baseball and won a few league titles growing up. I am also super proud of holding 2 degrees – My Bachelors of Science in Psychology at WNE (2021), and my M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration from Springfield College (2023). One of my proudest moments of my life is when senior year in college, I was awarded the Grand Senior award due to my involvement as a student leader at WNE, along with my passion and devotion to this University. I was voted as the top senior out of my entire class of around 700 students.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What were some challenges you had to overcome during high school? Any advice to Highlanders?
“I definitely struggled with balancing my academics, sports and social life in high school. I feel like I focused too much on my grades and missed out on making connections with my friends and spending more time with them. I think a good piece of advice for any high school student is to know that everything is going to work out okay in the end. The grade you earn on that math test or that English presentation will honestly not matter in the end, as you will not remember high school based on the grades you got or classes you took. It goes by so fast, so definitely get super involved – join a club, tryout for a team, go to the football games, go to your dances and proms. Make as many fun memories as you can and do not stress about every second because that is not what you will want to remember high school as.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: Do you have any tips on self care, and how do you approach it? What’s your daily routine like? Why do you believe it’s important?
“Mental Health is so important, and you have to be aware of yourself and things that dont make you happy and things that do. It is important to include doing things that you just flat out enjoy every single day. If you work too hard and not leave room to take care of yourself, you will not be helping your mental health. My daily routine typically involves trying to take care of my physical health and mental health as much as possible. I wake up and get ready for work, go to work, make sure I am eating and taking quick breaks while at work to not overwhelm myself. When work ends I like to go for a quick run and then work out – whether I do things at home or go to the gym depends on my energy level, and them take time to myself doing things I know will make me happy. Then, I make sure I get a good night’s sleep and look forward to the next day!” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What’s something you feel nostalgic about? Is there anything you feel very grateful towards? What are some of the most memorable school moments or events that have still stuck with you?
“I definitely miss being a kid and living life as a kid with no stress and no worry for what tomorrow will bring. I feel nostalgic all the time and it’s all things that lead back to what it feels like to be a kid. The chirping of the birds, the beauty in nature, music, etc always bring back those fun memories of being a kid.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: Do you want to share a few words about a loved one? What role do relationships—whether with family, friends, or colleagues—play in your life? Do they inspire, motivate, or offer valuable lessons to you?
“My Aunt Mary was such a big role model for me. She was the nicest person I ever knew, and I loved being with her and talking with her on the phone. When you would talk to her, she would make you feel like you were the best thing in the world. She was super understanding and always made time for everyone. She passed due to cancer in 2020, and I always try to be like her and really care for my peers, my students, and really anyone who comes into my life. I always feel her watching over me everyday.” – Gehrig Burnett.
What Does Gehrig Burnett Do for a Living?
Q: How did you get started in your current profession? What attracted you to your current line of work, and has your passion for it changed over time?
“I loved working with students when I was in college. I went for my Masters in Student Affairs as I thought it was awesome to be able to work with students as a career! I think working in admissions is really fun and can be really fulfilling when students I meet apply to WNE and actually end up coming and have a great experience. I remember seeing this job posting and thought how fun it would be to be back at WNE. I feel like this job is made for me as I love working with current WNE students and also meeting prospective students on the road and getting them interested in WNE.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you at your job? How has your role evolved since you first started? What skills do you think are the most essential for success in your profession? What do you find most fulfilling about your current position?
“My days are very busy. In the fall, I am typically traveling full time going to a bunch of different high schools meeting students and school counselors. Those are long days but are super rewarding. When I am in the office, I have a number of different things that I am in charge of. I am usually in lots of meetings, or out meeting with students and families coming to visit campus. My role changed last year when a counselor left and someone needed to help step up and co-manage the Student Ambassadors (students that give the campus tours). That changed my life a lot, as I co-lead the SAs and have gotten to know so many amazing students. They take up a lot of my time every day, and sometimes drive me crazy, but it is a joy getting to supervise them.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What has been the biggest lesson or learning experience in your career/profession so far? How do you stay motivated in your work, especially when working with a team, or when experiencing tough times?
“The chance of meeting a student and then them choosing Western New England keeps me going. When I am on the road or getting the tours, I always think that each of these students could become Golden Bears one day. And that helps me keep going and trying to be the best I can. The work-life balance is key, and I make sure when I am at work, I work hard, and then when I am home, I take care of myself and definitely relax hard too.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering entering your field of work? What are some common misconceptions people have about your profession? What personal qualities do you believe have helped you succeed in your profession?
“There is a lot of pressure in this field of work, and there are some very long hours and stress. BUT, it can be so rewarding and so fulfilling. It is so important to focus on the positive and treat every student you meet the same. In the end, we are selling the school to them and it is a business, but it is so important to not take anything for granted because we can make such a long and lasting impact!” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: What changes do you see in your industry, and how are you preparing for them? Do you have any goals for the future? Where do you see yourself in your career in the next 5-10 years?
“Higher education is changing all the time. Each student is so different and all have different needs, and it is important to stay up to date on policies and effective practices to best support each student that you meet. My professional goals right now are just to continue supporting students and being there for them in all aspects. I truly love working with students and it truly is so rewarding being a part of their college experience and overall growth in life. In the next 5-10 I still see myself in this role at WNE as I just love it so much, and love WNE! Again, it is very stressful, but is super rewarding.” – Gehrig Burnett.
Q: Can you share a story where your job made a positive impact on someone or your community? What are you most passionate about?
“Working with the student ambassadors has been such a job and they all make my days so much more fun. I have gotten pretty close to a lot of the students, and seeing what the do is so amazing. It’s like one big awesome family, and together we all make such an impact on WNE and on the students that walk through our doors. They motivate me so much (and I dont think they really realize it!)” – Gehrig Burnett.
After getting to know Gehrig Burnett as an individual, what can you take away from this spotlight interview? Would you consider working with the youth? Do you feel inspired to pursue your professional goals now? This interview not only highlighted the work that Gehrig Burnett has done for students throughout the years, but also raised awareness about the importance of striving for higher education or exploring other opportunities that come your way. Thank you for following along, and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! To read more articles, scroll down and click the ‘Spotlight Interview’ tag in red! Tune in for more articles.
Get in Touch with Gehrig Burnett!
