Staff: Hailey DeSutter

• Ken Buday

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As a college freshman at East Carolina University, Hailey DeSutter may not have known what she wanted to do for her career. But her mother sure knew.

Now, 10 years later, DeSutter serves ECU's College of Education as the N.C. Teaching Fellows, scholarship programs and student engagement coordinator.

"I came to ECU as an undecided major," DeSutter said of her freshman year in 2016.

She considered following her older sister into nursing, but her mother encouraged her to pursue a degree in education.

"I loved working with kids and helping others, and I just knew that I had a lot of great teachers in my life growing up," she said. "It was a career I could see myself going into."

She graduated with her bachelor's in elementary education in 2020 and taught kindergarten for three years, during which time she also obtained her master's in elementary education from ECU.

The desire to serve future teachers fueled her decision to return to ECU and the College of Education.

"My role allows me to remain connected to education while supporting future teachers going into the field," DeSutter said. "When the opportunity presented itself, it felt like the perfect fit. Being able to support students at the university that helped prepare me for a career in education makes this opportunity even more meaningful."

DeSutter works with students from recruitment and onboarding to graduation, guiding them throughout their four years to seminars, volunteer opportunities, networking events, professional development training and cultural enrichment opportunities. It starts early with students who are part of the college's living learning community, which connects education majors in one residence hall and offers them group activities.

"The education living learning community offers a strong support system, and we are fortunate to have exceptional students," she said. "They are motivated, dedicated and passionate about working with youth, with a genuine desire to make a positive impact as future educators."

She draws on her own experiences as an ECU student in her role.

"I had such a great undergrad experience, but I wasn't super involved," DeSutter said. "Now I am able to reflect on my own experience and really encourage the students in our program to get involved, to take advantage of all the opportunities here, because I myself didn't."

Included in those opportunities are international experiences. DeSutter accompanied 23 students to Spain in May.

"We visited two schools to give our ECU students the opportunity to interact with students and educators, learn about the local school system and explore both the similarities and differences between schools in the U.S. and abroad," she said. "Experiences like this help broaden perspective and deepen understanding of educational systems. These are firsthand experiences these students can carry with them into their classrooms and share with their future students."

Such trips contribute to the growth DeSutter sees in students from the moments they arrive as freshmen.

"When students first arrive, many are nervous and still finding their footing," she said. "Watching students grow and progress into confident leaders over the course of the program is so rewarding. Many are involved in several organizations and programs across campus and do a great job of balancing several competing priorities. Seeing these students succeed and hearing about their accomplishments reminds me why I love what I do."

Outside of work, DeSutter enjoys do-it-yourself projects and crafts, such as needlepoint with her sister. She and her husband also enjoy time with their dog, Phoebe.

As she prepares to welcome a new group of freshmen education students for the fall semester, DeSutter appreciates the support she gets from the College of Education staff, specifically crediting her supervisor, Dr. Dionna Manning, for her leadership, guidance and commitment to ECU.

"I am fortunate to be surrounded by incredible colleagues and mentors here at ECU," she said. "Their encouragement, guidance and confidence in me have influenced me in so many ways."