Loyola University Chicago

University Staff Council

August 2020

Brandi Bates

Title/s:  Coordinator for Ramble Outdoors

Email: bbates@luc.edu

About

Department/School/Division: Campus Recreation, Division of Student Development

Campus: Lakeshore Campus

Years at Loyola: 1 year

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola? My favorite thing about working at Loyola is the opportunity to continue to learn whether it’s from my colleagues, students, or other entities on campus. The ability to collaborate with other areas within campus rec as well as different areas on campus is so unique. I think it helps create a cohesive community on campus and one that helps me grow as a professional and person.

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee? We had our first ever Ramble Outdoors ski trip this past Spring! It was a great time to see students experiencing nature and learn a new skill. My student facilitators really stepped up to lead a new program and made a community on that trip.

What does Loyola's mission mean to you?  Loyola’s mission means to me to continue learning in order to serve others—every new skill, fact, or experience (even the not so great ones!) can be used to connect with another person and hopefully have a good laugh.  

What motivates you to succeed each and every day? The students and the realization that even if something fails miserably, I’ll have probably learned something from it.

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. I show my Rambler pride by gifting my family members and friends Rambler gear every year for the holidays. Ask me how many Loyola mugs we have! (Eight- one for every member of the family)

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. I wrote a lullaby for my nephews, three and five, and some day want to create a children’s book for them. Those two goofs are the loves of my life.