Today@Sam Article

Commencement Spotlight: Emily McMillen

SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

“Commencement Spotlight” highlights SHSU's upcoming graduates with stories from Bearkats that demonstrate a “can-do” spirit through challenges and service. Visit today@sam/commencementspotlight to read more.

Emily McMillen  
Benbrook, Texas
BBA in Human Resource Management

Emily McMillen will be using her degree in Human Resource Management with an HR consulting firm, Achilles Group, after graduation. In her new role, she is hoping to improve the lives of employees by working with businesses on bettering employee accommodations. 

“I want to be able to help them meet the needs of their employees by focusing on paying them a livable wage and treating them well,” McMillen said. “Employees deserve respect in the workplace, and to feel safe. Many employees in the LGBTQ+ community feel as though they can’t be open about their personal life in the workplace out of fear of discrimination, and I want to ensure that employees in small businesses in Houston are safe from discrimination and are able to be open about their life in the workplace.”

McMillen saw the importance in offering support after she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in her sophomore year of college. After that, she focused on maintaining her mental health and encouraged those around her to do the same.

She also became heavily involved in campus life, with positions such as resident advisor at Raven Village Hall, Attorney General for the Student Government Association, president of the Society of Human Resource Management, as well as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and of the student disciplinary hearing committee.

Her college journey also included help from an emotional support animal.

 “As an RA, I have talked to many students about the different accommodations that the disabilities office offers, and I felt that it was important to educate others on those services because many people, including myself, need those accommodations in order to be on equal footing with other students and succeed in college.”

McMillen attributes her success to the support she received from scholarship as well as the Services for Students with Disabilities Office. Thanks to generous donors from the McFarland Fund Scholarship, J. Roy Wells Scholarship, Dr. Paul and Emily J Reed Human Resource Management Scholarship and the Edward James Crawford Scholarship, McMillen was able to remain active on campus and give back through community service.

“I will miss the influential professors as well as all of the opportunities that I have had while being a student here,” McMillen said. “I have been able to learn so much while being at Sam Houston, and I’m going to miss being in an environment where I will be able to constantly learn about my chosen profession.”

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