Emily DeLano is the leadership and service coordinator at Oakland University. She believes students should try different experiences to figure out what they like and don't like, which can help them get ahead. DeLano oversees volunteer programs and advises alternative spring break. She has previously worked jobs like waitressing and running a vending machine company. Through these experiences, she learned how to better respond to different situations. DeLano graduated with a degree in Communication and Business but pursued a master's in higher education. She hopes to one day teach communication to students but for now enjoys the variety in her current job.

1. Williams
Profile of Emily DeLano
February 26, 2014
ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Some people go their whole life dreaming of a brighter future yet
not putting in the work to get there. Emily DeLano, leadership and service coordinator for
Oakland University, is a testament that hard work and a positive attitude pays off. She believes
that students should “try everything” in the process of figuring out what they like and don’t
like, because those experiences could help them get ahead of their peers.
For a year, Emily has been happily working for the Center for Student Activities doing a
host of different things such as volunteer programs, overseeing the CSA leadership consultant
program, and being an advisor to alternative spring break.
Leadership Consultant, Carin Inglis, says that it’s not difficult to tell that Emily loves her
job. “She is inspirational because she puts all of her efforts into serving a greater purpose
unselfishly,” she said. “She makes others want to be better leaders.”
Dealing with angry customers as a waitress and running a vending machine company
that required her to lift heavy boxes that ruined her back, were two of the worst jobs Emily says
she has had, but she always looked at them as positives that would get her one step closer to
her goals.
Through past jobs, she learned to respond to certain situations much better. “All of the
jobs in my past have taught me so much,” Emily said. “So every job is good.”
Throughout her life experiences, she realized that people were sometimes rude but
killing them with kindness was always the best route, and that’s the exact attitude she kept
with her in everyday life.
“I really believe that ‘to whom much is given little, and if they’re responsible with it
they’ll be given much,’” Emily said. “Even if you have a job as a waitress, be the best waitress
there is. Your boss will notice and give you a phenomenal reference.”
She graduated from Siena Heights University with a bachelor’s in Communication and
Business, but had a different career in mind. “I thought that I was going to do a hundred
different things,” she said. “I was planning to go to grad school for counseling but realized I
liked working in higher education so I pursued a master’s in that.”
One day she hopes to teach communication to students but for now, she says she is
happy where she is because the OU staff is so “down-to-earth” and the variety that her job
offers makes every day different.

2. “Emily is a motivated individual who sets clear goals for both her work and personal
life,” said student volunteer Jorge Garcia. “She definitely cares about the student employees
she oversees as well as the projects she heads.
Describing herself as a “business kid”, Emily would always create different events and
games for people when she was younger. “I had this show called ‘The Circus Show’ where the
kids would dress as animals and play different games,” Emily said. “I would charge the parents
an entry fee and make them pay for the popcorn that they made themselves.”
Graduate assistant for leadership and service learning, Cortney Scott, says it’s great
working with Emily because she strives to be the best and not for individual accolades. “Her
work ethic is one thing I admire about her. I think we both work over and above our pay grade
but we love what we do so we look at helping students as more than a job.”
Emily says that students should try joining an organization, participating in alternative
spring break or a service event, because students never know the connections they could make
or the people they could network with from these experiences.
Being the caring person that many of her colleagues claimher to be, Emily likes to help
others in need. If she had the power to do anything she wanted, she says she would rid the
world of selfishness which she believes would solve all issues.
When Emily isn’t busy enjoying her days at work, she likes to stay active by going rock
climbing, working on arts and crafts projects, and spending time outdoors. She also likes to
travel and dreams of one day traveling to Europe.
The CSA encourages students to join one or more of OU’s many organizations, and
participate in community outreach opportunities that will not only get students involved on
campus but also help them become better leaders.
Upcoming events by the CSA include Ruth Ellis Center, OUCares, Family Fun day, and
plenty of other ways for students to connect with OU and make a difference.
The Center for Student Activities is located on the lower level of the Oakland Center and
open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. For
more information, visit the CSA or contact Emily DeLano at Delano@oakland.edu.