Despite not knowing where she would go to college late into her senior year of high school, Liliane Portman has found a home at Waynesburg University. 

“When I was a senior in high school, I was really bad about looking for different colleges,” Portman said. “My friend was actually just coming for an overnight visit; it wasn’t really any school that was on my radar because I’m from northeastern Ohio, so I am a little bit away from here. I just tagged along for that overnight, and as soon as I was on campus, I just fell in love with it and just knew this is where I wanted to be.” 

Portman graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 2022, but came back to the University to pursue a master’s degree in business and became a graduate assistant with the Department of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as the Admissions Office, where she is an admissions counselor. 

“I knew that I wanted to continue my education,” Portman said. “My undergrad was in art, and I minored in entrepreneurship and I was still really curious about entrepreneurship. I had gotten an internship in the entrepreneurial department, and then they offered me to become a graduate assistant. That offered an opportunity to continue my education, and I got my master’s degree in business, and I remember feeling like my time here wasn’t really done yet and I had planned to continue on to the admissions field.” 

Associate Director of Admissions Isaiah Skeete, who has worked with Portman for a little over a year,  detailed some of the things Portman does and what she brings to the table. 

“I work fairly closely with Lily,” Skeete wrote in an email interview. “We work together for admissions events such as Jacket Day and Open Houses. Also, her office is directly next to mine, so we are always in communication. Lily works with our marketing materials, oversees our overnight events and social media accounts and assists with other admissions events. Her passion for students, her love for Waynesburg and her ability to offer creative ideas are extremely beneficial to the admissions office.”

After working with the University for three years post-graduation, Portman has a deeper appreciation for being a student after getting a different look at what goes into being a Waynesburg University student. 

“It was definitely interesting getting a peek behind the curtain,” Portman said. “I loved being a student on campus, but I think I learned to appreciate it even more as a staff member because I’ve seen the work that goes behind everything. It’s exciting to see the process from the start because when you’re a senior, you forget what it’s like to be coming in fresh with that mindset and every day I get to see students who are just starting out that experience and it’s exciting to see them be excited about it again.” 

Skeete indicated there are several things that make working with Portman a good experience. 

“Working with Lily has been great,” Skeete wrote. “She cares about her job, loves students and loves Waynesburg University. Additionally, she has an innovative and creative mindset, so it’s always fun to bounce ideas off her.”