Syracuse Sun

When students moved into Day Hall this week, they were greeted by Kathryn Bradford and her smile.

Bradford, an administrative specialist in the Shaw Center, has volunteered with Welcome Week for the past six years. In her role as a move-in captain, she is one of the first people that eager first-year students—and their parents and families—engage with as they begin their journey at Syracuse University.

It’s a role that Bradford—a 27-year employee of the University—relishes. For the first 20 years of her tenure at the University, Bradford worked in the textbook division of the Campus Store. The nature of that job, with the busiest times being at the start of each semester, meant that she wasn’t able to break away to volunteer.

Her job at the Shaw Center, where she oversees operations of the center, supervises the leadership internship program and directly coaches and mentors more than 25 undergraduate interns, gave her that chance.

“It wasn’t until I was here that there was the opportunity for me to join Welcome Week,” she says. Her Shaw Center colleagues Pamela Kirwin Heintz, associate vice president and director; Carla Ramírez, assistant director; and Laurel Morton, coordinator, provide the support for her to be out of the office for Welcome Week. “They see the importance of me being involved in this,” she says.

Bradford has been at Day Hall for three days this week, sun-up to sundown. “I love the interaction with the students and helping them get the best start possible,” she says.

In her role as move-in captain, she is the go-to person to smooth out any problems that arise. “All of the faculty and staff volunteers check in with me to get an overview of what’s happening and what the system is, to make sure we are collaborating with the Department of Public Safety and Parking and Transportation Services staff on site; to make sure that we are all on the same page,” she says.

Bradford is there to keep the staff in residence halls apprised of what is happening outside and support orientation leaders and Goon Squad volunteers, who she describes as “phenomenal.”

One of the biggest challenges during move-in, she says, is keeping things moving. Cars are unloading in building fire lanes, which means a licensed driver who is in possession of car keys must remain with their vehicle at all times. It’s a mix of logistics and people skills to gently guide families through this process while being sensitive to emotions and respecting family experiences.

One important part of Bradford's move-in experience is letting students and families know she is a resource. “I always have my business cards on me, and I encourage students and families to contact me if I can help in any way.” As a parent herself, she knows that reassurance often goes a long way. The students she has helped move in have often crossed paths with her later on as orientation leaders or Goon Squad volunteers or in her work with Shaw Center.

She also values connecting with campus faculty and staff whom she otherwise may not have met. “There are many people from across campus that I maybe wouldn’t have met, and we can stay connected and collaborate simply from going through that move-in experience,” she says.

Bradford plans to continue volunteering for Welcome Week well into future years. “I love interacting with families and assuring them that their student is in good hands. It’s just fun—the excitement, energy … anytime you can spend a couple days smiling all day long and just being happy … bring it on.”