University of Utah : S.J. Quinney College of Law

Elizabeth Seeley

Elizabeth Seeley, Special Events Coordinator for the College of Law and the Wallace Stegner Center
Elizabeth Seeley coordinates catering, event venues, and all the other little details that go into organizing a law school or Stegner Center event. She also also helps to coordinate travel for student competitions, admissions and Stegner Center guests.  As she summarizes, “I can assist you with a place to eat, a plane to catch, or a paper plate.”

Seeley earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the U of U, focusing on organizational communication.  “Since you are probably wondering what that entails,” she notes as an aside, “I’ll give you a short synopsis. It’s a systems approach to organizations. For example, we did a consulting project for a non-profit organization. We volunteered [our time] with them to experience firsthand how they functioned internally and externally. We also analyzed their paper documents (for example, employee handbooks, manuals, and organizational charts), and surveyed and interviewed employees.  To conclude the project, we created an executive summary and presentation for them comparing their organization on paper versus what was actually happening. We examined the bottlenecks, gaps, or other inefficiencies/inconsistencies within the business.  The time I spent at the non-profit organization allowed me to see the big picture of how many people it really takes to help any organization run smoothly. I noted the many positions in an organization that are often underappreciated due to their low profile.  One personal value that came out of this is to be conscious and appreciative of everyone that  helps me accomplish my job.”

Seeley explains that she loves the creative aspects of her job at the Quinney College, as well as the variety and energy inherent in event planning. “It’s unique to do this [type of work] in an academic environment. My greatest challenge is when I occasionally work with high-maintenance people, but everyone I work with on a regular basis is really wonderful,” she says.

In fact, she continues, her current job provides a stark contrast to a position she once held in which she very little contact with people and did almost all paper/computer work. “Wow!,” she recalls. “It was the worst possible job fit for me.”

Seeley, who has been with the Quinney College since 2007, is still adjusting to her whirlwind schedule and wide-ranging duties. “My motto is ‘Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape,’” she explains.

“In a typical day I book caterers, choose menus and make restaurant/ event venue reservations that are necessary to host guest speakers and attendees.  I find venues that accommodate the purpose of each event, whether it is an academic lecture, networking opportunity, conference or symposium.  I then work on the smaller details, such as parking, guest travel, event promotion, and invitations /RSVP lists to name a few,” she concludes.