People Who Keep Collegis Running: Hannah Ruszczyk

Let us introduce you!

Marketers, IT support specialists, curriculum designers … just a few of the people who dive into each of our partners’ missions, goals and values in order to create custom student experience, technology and enrollment solutions. Every single person at Collegis Education is integral to our ability to deliver for our partners.

We sat down with Hannah Ruszczyk, senior technical analyst, to learn more about who she is and how she supports our partners.

How would you describe your job to someone who is unfamiliar with the field?

I set up web analytics tracking on our college and university partners’ websites. This helps our partners measure things like how often each page of the website is viewed or how many times a form on the website has been submitted. This information can be used to make decisions about website design or digital marketing strategies.

Name three words that describe your role at Collegis.

• Innovative
• Analytical
• Adaptable

How does your role help support our partners?

One of the first exercises I facilitate with our partners is the creation of a technical whiteboard that documents the technology they are using – and how their different systems are working together. This exercise is critical to how I offer support because it allows the partner and myself to then work together to create a roadmap that will help them improve their tracking capabilities while taking full advantage of the technology they are already using.

What skills do you need to succeed in your role?

To be successful in my role, I have to be resourceful and adaptable. Since I work with the technology a school is already using, I’m constantly introduced to new tools and use cases. I’ve learned that there is always more than one way to create a solution and it’s up to me to determine what the best option is depending on a school’s unique situation.

When working with technology, it’s also critical to always be adaptable. Websites, browsers, tools, cookies, etc., are constantly changing. I always need to be ready to update a solution or go down a different path when something unexpected comes up.

What do you most enjoy about your role at Collegis?

My favorite thing about my role is that I’m constantly learning new things. No two days or projects are the same and that makes my job really exciting!

What do you most enjoy about Collegis as a company?

Since Collegis offers a wide range of services, I really enjoy getting to work with and learn from people who have many different skillsets and areas of expertise.

How would you describe the Collegis culture?

Supportive, collaborative and exciting!

What drew you to work in the higher education field?

I was excited to work in the higher education field because education has a huge impact on society as a whole and can be life-changing for individuals. I also felt like education was an industry I could relate to personally since I started my career at Collegis right after graduating from college.

What is one thing you’ve learned about higher ed since you started working at Collegis?

No two schools are exactly alike. Even if they are using the same technology tools, there are always different nuances and exceptions depending on how each school operates and what they value.

Where did you go to college, and what degree(s) did you obtain?

I went to Drake University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management.

What do you value most from your own college experience?

I value the opportunities when I was exposed to new perspectives and different ways of thinking.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was growing up, I wanted to be an author because I liked writing stories and reading books.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in their career?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Questions are expected when you’re first starting a new job and it shows your coworkers that you are engaged and eager to perform well.

What is one skill you’d love to add to your resume?

I would love to add more computer science skills to my resume. I studied marketing in college and never realized how much I loved working with technology until I started at Collegis.

How would you spend an unexpected day of PTO?

I would likely sleep in, enjoy some coffee while reading a book, go for an outdoor run (assuming it’s not the middle of winter in Minnesota) and then I’d probably head to the mall. I love getting the chance to go shopping without having to battle weekend crowds!