NATCHITOCHES – Four recent Northwestern State University graduates have returned to campus, this time as employees, beginning professional careers at the university where they earned their degrees.
Savannah Struppeck, Christopher Richard, Brooke Straight and Natalie Mangdani each graduated from NSU before accepting positions in Alumni Affairs, First Year Experience, the Student Union and the Career Center.
Struppeck, assistant director of Alumni Affairs for marketing and memberships, graduated in December 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and tourism and a minor in communications. She completed an internship with the Alumni Association before joining the office full time after graduation.
“So funny story, I never really left NSU. I did my internship here with the Alumni Association, I just really fell in love with it. I’ve been blessed to be able to stay here for a little bit longer.”
Struppeck said her hospitality management and tourism coursework, along with leadership roles on campus, prepared her for her current position.
“With HMT, I learned a lot about how to be a professional person in the workforce and I think that gave me a lot of confidence post-grad in an actual professional space. My executive position in my sorority also gave me some experience in event planning and public speaking in general.”
Christopher Richard, coordinator of First Year Experience and leadership development, graduated in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and is pursuing a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education.
“I plan to stay here at Northwestern; that’s my long-term goal is just to stay here and plant roots here in Natchitoches.”
Richard said his undergraduate experiences extended beyond the classroom.
“The education and experience that I had here at Northwestern during my undergraduate time really prepared me for life after graduation. It’s more than just the classroom lessons I learned; it’s the soft skills in the organizations and programs that I was a part of.”
Brooke Straight serves as graduate assistant to Student Union Director Scott Maggio while pursuing graduate studies at NSU. She graduated in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication.
“I knew I wanted to go into event planning, but I didn’t know specifically what kind and at the Student Union, we put on all different kinds of events. Being his graduate assistant, I would be able to get experience.”
Straight said campus involvement helped her identify the type of event planning she wanted to pursue.
“Coming into college, I was a lot more introverted but I was in the President’s Leadership Program and I was a Freshman Connector and I also joined a sorority and so really just stepping out of my comfort zone helped me get experience to figure out what exactly it is that I wanted to do.”
Natalie Mangdani works in the Career Center as the job location and development officer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2023 before completing a master’s degree in student affairs and higher education in December 2024. She joined the Career Center while finishing graduate school.
“So I actually got my job when I was still doing my master’s and so that was very exciting.”
Richard said one of the most rewarding parts of returning to campus has been continuing the relationships he built as a student.
“I think the most rewarding thing about being back on campus is that I never left. I never had to say goodbye to the people that have helped me the most during my undergraduate years. Those relationships that I’ve built, I can still cultivate them and still become friends with these people that have helped me throughout my time.”
Mangdani said becoming a university employee changed the way she views the faculty and staff who supported her as a student.
“I have a different level of respect for them after seeing what they do behind the scenes that students don’t see and that I didn’t see when I was a student.”
Straight reflected on returning to campus after graduation.
“You definitely do a lot of self-reflection after you graduate. It’s a very full circle moment, the students in undergrad being in the same position that you were and just seeing them grow just as you did and being able to help them as well.”
Mangdani described the support she has received since becoming a university employee.
“During the transition of being an employee, figuring out what I’m doing with my life no matter what phase of life, they’re going through it with you.”
“It truly is a home away from home. I know that I can call anybody on this campus and they will help me with whatever I need and it’s just a family over here. Every time I step on this campus, I know that I have somebody cheering me on or being my No. 1 supporter or just having a friend to look out for me.”
Struppeck said students and recent graduates should keep an open mind when looking for career opportunities.
“There are so many moving parts to a university, and I feel like there’s something for everyone, no matter what your degree is. If you’re struggling to find something like an internship or any job post-grad, I would definitely look closer to home because you never know what opportunities are out there.”