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Brooke Schwerha is a first-year graduate student in the Higher Education and Administration and Student Affairs program, and one of our committed Graduate Assistants in Operations and Guest Services.  Brooke began her journey with Kent State’s Recreation and Wellness Services about four years ago as an undergraduate student employee and has continued to make a mark through her leadership and passion for student development since then.

Brooke graduated with a B.S in Public Health and a concentration in Community Outreach and Development (2025). She explains that as an undergraduate, RecWell has helped her find a sense of belonging as she says she has, “met some of my best friends here”. She states that her position has helped her grow as a mentor and leader while she has built strong connections with administrators and staff, all of which have made the area feel welcoming. 

In her current graduate assistant role, Brooke is supporting student staff by curating an environment grounded in positivity, learning, and openness. She helps lead scheduling efforts and assists in facilitating training and hiring processes. She was recognized for her dedicated work in 2022, when she was named Operations Student Employee of the Year. In 2025, she received Career Exploration and Development’s University Student Employee Inspirational Leadership Award, which is “given to individuals who demonstrate a positive impact on others and the ability to recognize and leverage personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals. These leaders motivate, energize, and bring passion and connection to their work environment”.  

One of her favorite parts of being at Kent State’s Recreation and Wellness Services has been her transition from a student employee to a graduate assistant. “I enjoy being able to step into a leadership role while still working alongside the people who helped shape me,” Brooke says. Her role has supported her academic success, giving her firsthand experiences in the field of higher education. Brooke gets the opportunity to collaborate with campus partners and organizations, which allows her to apply concepts from her coursework to her professional responsibilities.

Throughout her experience at RecWell, she has noticed significant personal and professional growth within herself. Brooke recalls improving soft skills such as communication, confidence in her leadership, and delegation, especially, which has been one of her biggest accomplishments. Her impact on RecWell motivates her each day as she's brought closer to her goal of becoming an administrator or supervisor. “I am passionate about what I do, and my job reminds me that I’m one step closer to my dream job.”

Brooke wishes to tell students who are considering joining the RecWell team that there is a strong community here, and everyone is hugely supportive. “You’ll find a friend, a mentor, or whatever you may be seeking.”

Brooke’s fun fact: she is an avid racer outside of her academics and position in Operations and Guest Services. She has completed multiple races, marathons, and triathlons.