For LaJill Edge, the head of student engagement at the Lakeland University campus, students have the power to create events for their fellow peers.  

“I listen to the students,” Edge stated in an interview. “What do they want to do?” She wants to create new experiences that fit into two criteria. The first criterion focuses on seeing if there is interest from the students.  

The second criterion is looking at if this is an event that students could not get from another college. This allows for a lively campus that students want to live at. “I think it [student events] is about retention. It’s about creating something that says, ‘ooh I like it here; I want to stay here.’”  

Edge’s desire for student success at Lakeland comes from her previous position. Previously, Edge worked as Lakeland’s advancement coordinator. In this role, Edge recruited donors for various needs at Lakeland. 

Edge then became the assistant to the president at Lakeland in 2016, a position she held until 2021 when the previous president of Lakeland David Black retired. Through the experiences Edge had with the students during her time as assistant and advancement coordinator, she realized that working closely with the students to help them succeed was her calling. Edge became the head of student engagement in 2021 and has been there ever since.  

While Edge focuses on allowing the students to run the events, there are also student experiences that Edge has a hand in as a coordinator. One of those events is the Five Star experience with Greek life. Students in Greek life work towards winning what is called the Dean’s Cup in Five Star.  

Hayley Weathersby, a junior in the Phi Delta Omega sorority, explained Edge’s involvement in Five Star. “LaJill is there to be a guiding voice in Five Star. She is willing to answer any questions any Greek has about Five Star and how they are doing throughout the year.” 

Even with the larger events on campus, Edge wants to give that power to students to teach them lessons on leadership. “It [student involvement] also develops leadership. You can start a club. You could lead a Greek organization. There are different ways you can be active. Not just to meet other students, but also to create leadership.” The Muskie Extravaganza is an example of how students can work together to create and facilitate campus wide events.  

The Muskie Extravaganza is a way for students to de-stress before finals week of the spring semester. What started as one day party has turned into a weeklong event for Lakeland students to look forward to every year. Extravaganza is also run by students. Edge forms a committee formed solely with students about what events they would want to see during The Extravaganza. The students decide what they want for The Extravaganza. Edge then makes it work. 

Students are also given resources to advertise their events to the student body at Lakeland. More traditional methods like posters are everywhere in the Laun Campus Center. There is also an Instagram page, @lustudentactivites, that advertises all student activities. 

Edge knew she wanted to work in student engagement because she loves seeing college students succeed. This can be seen with the group of students hanging around her office daily. She believes in events that not only are engaging for students to make them want to stay at Lakeland, but also events that are by students, for students.