Alicia Heeney has spent 15 years helping Spartan Nation, including the past eight years supporting the College’s Undergraduate Studies Office. She was recently featured in the MSU Administrative Professional Association newsletter, in a Q & A written by Gerlind Kiupel of the APA Communication Committee.
What is your job title?
Executive Secretary II
How long have you been at MSU?
15 years
Have you been a member of the APA the whole time?
No, I started my MSU career in the College of Human Medicine Department of Epidemiology as a CT and have been a member of APA since March 2014.
What department do you work in and what do you do?
I work in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Studies Office, located in Wilson Hall. I am support for the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Amanda Idema. I am also a fiscal officer on a research account, gift accounts, and a few discretionary accounts.
I am also responsible for the annual collegewide scholarships process, which are awarded to engineering students, valued at approximately $1.2 million per academic year. Individual awards vary in amounts of up to $25,000 per student.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
Anyone who knows me knows that I love our Spartans and support our Spartan teams either in person or watching on television. I love spending time at a small, secluded campground south of Silver Lake with little to no Wi-Fi or phone service; it is a great off-the-grid location on Lake Michigan in the summer months.
I’m also thinking of converting my three-car garage into a multi-purpose She Shed (Spartan sports viewing area, exercise area, DIY shop complete with power tools large and small, as well as a parking spot for the rainy and snowy months.
I enjoy working on DIY updates and projects in my home. I have two dogs: Bandit (15-year old Shih-Poo) and Buster (10-year old Terrier-Poodle mix). My hobbies include watching the SPARTANS of course, tackling DIY projects, reading on my Kindle, crocheting, working on my She Shed when I can, and spending time with my adult kids who are very busy along with family and friends, and spending time on the beach whether it is oceanfront or Lake Michigan! I love them both. My favorite junk food is DOTS CHEESE CURLS!
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies Amanda Idema said Heeney is a key part of the UGS team.
“Her outgoing personality, sense of humor, and love for all things Green and White have made her a valuable member of our office. I appreciate her commitment to helping students, as well as moving the College of Engineering forward,” Idema added.