Lighting McQueen is her name and being fantastically fabulous is her game. Rebecca McQueen is making remarkable strides here at Kentucky Wesleyan College as the Director of the Sophomore Experience. The Sophomore Experience is a grant-funded position that aims to help students overcome the “sophomore slump.” Get to know a little more about McQueen in the Q & A below.

Education information

UNC – Chapel Hill, BA in Psychology

Appalachian State, MA in College Student Development

Favorite undergrad experience?

Storming Franklin Street every time we beat Dook (which wasn’t many times when I was there).  Halloween was also a HUGE deal in Chapel Hill – one of the biggest celebrations in the country.  About 80,000 people would be on Franklin Street in costume and have a really good time.

When did you know that this is the career you wanted?

I was really involved on campus during my undergraduate career and in my Senior year an advisor of a student organization I was in told me I should do this when I grow up.  I had never really thought about it, but it made sense.

Why did you choose to get into this career?

Student Affairs professionals made a big difference for me in my undergraduate career and I want to be that for students I work with today.  I like that I get to help people find their paths and their best selves while also having a lot of fun.

Professional experience?

Right after I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I worked for two years at Meredith College, a women’s college in Raleigh, as a Residence Director.  While I was in graduate school at Appalachian State University, I was a residence director and the advisor for the LGBT student organization. I then worked for three years at Elon University as the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Danieley Center. Then, prior to coming to Kentucky Wesleyan, I was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Pfeiffer University outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.

What brought you to Kentucky Wesleyan?

I came to Kentucky Wesleyan because I was really excited about the position of Director of Sophomore Experience.  After working for years in Residence Life and student conduct, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get some different experience and work with students in a different way.  Furthermore, it’s a great professional opportunity to be able to develop and create a new program.  It also doesn’t hurt that my family lives so close by.

Favorite thing to do in Owensboro?

I like going to the Wesleyan basketball games and just the general community here.  I was lucky enough to be in the Leadership Owensboro class through the Chamber of Commerce last year and learned about all of the stuff going on in the area.  There is a lot to do here that people don’t even realize.

Favorite Wesleyan event?

I really love being a judge for K Dub Idol.  It’s so cool to see students make themselves vulnerable and perform in front of their peers. It’s also fun to pick on them from the judge’s table. Ha. My favorite sophomore experience event is the trip to Give Kids the World over the winter break. I love that students are willing to give up a part of their valuable break to serve others.

Who is your role model?

Professionally, one of my role models in my friend Sarah Stover. She and I were colleagues at Elon University and she is just one of the best professionals I know. She approaches everything she does with a lot of professionalism, humility, and compassion. I would love to be the kind of professional she is. Personally my role model is my dad. He is a Marine and sacrificed so much to better his family and his country. He taught me what real love is.