Staff Profile: College Coach Diane Nelson

Diane Nelson has been a college coach at College Success Foundation for 2 year and 7 months, supporting students at Spokane Falls Community College and Whitworth University. Read on to learn more about why she works at CSF, what a day in her life as a college coach looks like and the impact of her work in the Spokane region … as well as her unconventional comfort meal.

What college(s) did you earn your degree(s) from, and in what subject(s)?

I have a B.A. in Health and Fitness and an M.A. in Sport and Athletic Administration from Gonzaga University.

What brought you to CSF? What made you want to work here?

The stars aligned. I had stepped down as the head volleyball coach at Gonzaga University in December 2021 to recharge myself and align more with my current values — spending more time with family and friends and pursuing better mental health. A friend went through the hiring process with CSF and was always talking about the great things this organization is doing in the community. One thing led to another, and she asked me to apply.

I was reluctant, not because of the organization, but because I was careful with where my time was being spent. After learning more and talking with my family, I decided to dive in. I said I would give it a year, and if it was not aligning with me, I would make a change.

Here I am, almost 3 years later. Much has changed, evolved and improved, and the work continues to challenge me, which I love. The work is fulfilling, not just a fun job. I learn more every day.

What does a “day in the life” at CSF look like for you?

I host two hours of open office hours on either the SFCC or Whitworth campus, engaging, laughing and connecting with college students. Typically, before and after office hours, I am walking the campus to meet and connect with other support personnel, be accessible and visible to students and staff and seek collaboration opportunities.

When not mingling, I am planning events, learning in CSF team meetings and connecting with my CSF colleagues. I am responsible for quarterly events, coaching sessions with students, creating “sense of belonging” events, partnering with campus personnel to educate students, promoting financial literacy for students and communicating with my students.

What’s the most rewarding thing about the work you do?

Seeing students thrive. This is not simple; it’s about helping them develop persistence in building skills and learn how to get up when they fall. The magic is in the 1:1 coaching sessions and diving deep into areas where students may not even realize they need attention. When a student engages in coaching, growth happens.

How do you see CSF impacting the lives of students?

CSF is intentional about training coaches on science-backed strategies for supporting students within our target population. For students to know they have at least one consistent support on campus for anything they need is vital to them persisting. Our role as their coach is to partner with students on this journey and help them unlock their potential to thrive.

I have many student success stories. One that stands out to me relates to a student who was really struggling with imposter syndrome. This student was consistently showing up to discuss an academic topic, but we would quickly realize that there was so much under the surface that they were struggling with that was personal and affecting their mental health. Once we started to go to that place, we started to develop some strategies that this student could implement to manage the downward spiral in their mind. We identified what they can and cannot control, and that has helped with their management of emotions and productivity, as well as confidence in building the skills to thrive. But, the student realizes they must put in some work in their daily routine. The walls came down, and the vulnerability this student showed allowed for real growth.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

Outside activities: walking, yoga, playing with my kiddos, going to sporting events, spending time at the lake in the summer and traveling. I also pursue personal growth: reading, listening to podcasts and networking.

At the end of a busy day or week, what’s your go-to comfort meal?

Steak or burger — no bun — and a sweet potato. I know, weird … I am a carnivore!