Broad College Employee Spotlight: Mahin Sandoval-Chavez

Spartans are known for our determination to make a difference, and one way this ethos is brought to life at the Broad College of Business is through our employees. In this Broad College Employee Spotlight Q&A series, get to know the many passionate faculty and staff members across the college.

Mahin Sandoval-Chavez

For almost two years, Mahin Sandoval-Chavez has been working as an event manager in the dean’s office. She has many responsibilities, including helping run college-wide events like commencement, which she works diligently to orchestrate so that thousands of students can celebrate with their families. This year, she also planned and managed large-scale events like the annual Sylvan T. Warrington Visiting Lectureship in Ethics and Leadership, which featured Linda Hubbard, president and COO of Carhartt, and various Advancing Women in Business events.

“My job lets me connect with lots of different people in our college, which is amazing. Though most of the work I do is behind the scenes, it’s amazing to see how much joy comes from people coming together,” Sandoval-Chavez said.

Another part of her role is to provide resources for catering, venues, vendors, hotels and more to colleagues and students, advising them on how to create a successful event. With her guidance, she has helped hundreds of students and staff members launch and host an event successfully.

Sandoval-Chavez is incredibly influential and supportive of MSU faculty and students in her position. From her experience, she thinks about the small details that are important to the success of the event and teaches others to think the same. Essential parts like layouts, budgeting, decorations, marketing and more can be overlooked, but without everything and everyone working together, chaos follows. Sandoval-Chavez works with all departments of MSU to ensure that all parts are in place so they can make something positive and impactful for the community.

“I get a chance to conceptualize the events that fit the needs of what is being hosted and see it in the large scale by fitting all the puzzle pieces together,” Sandoval-Chavez explained.

Broad News: What inspired you to begin working at Michigan State University?

Sandoval-Chavez: I was inspired by the work MSU and Broad are aiming to do to help make our students successful. It’s been great to see some of these initiatives take off, like the Dashney Women’s Leadership Accelerator.

Broad News: What do you like most about being an employee at the Broad College?

Sandoval-Chavez: Hmm… That’s a tough one. I would say getting to connect with different people across all departments. My job lets me get to see a bit of all the great things others are doing.

Broad News: What motivates or renews your commitment to MSU on a regular basis?

Sandoval-Chavez: The work that we are doing to help continue building successful students at Broad for sure keeps me going. Also, the work we are doing to connect those students with alumni through events like the Detroit Executive Forum we hosted last spring or the Advancing Women in Business panel we held earlier in April.

Broad News: What are you most looking forward to this academic year?

Sandoval-Chavez: Ooh, I think commencement is on the top of the list. All the students are always excited and happy. We also get to see them connect with the faculty before the ceremony as they get seated, so it’s a good full-circle moment.

Broad News: What’s been one high point of your time at the Broad College?

Sandoval-Chavez: A high point during my time here is when I get to connect with my colleagues. Knowing that I have built a fun network I can connect with frequently to discuss the future of Broad and how we can help move it forward through events is pretty awesome.

Broad News: What is one fun fact about you?

Sandoval-Chavez: I’m the worst at the fun fact question! Let’s see. I guess one fun fact is that I love reading a little bit of everything, normally more than one book at a time. Currently on deck: Written/Unwritten: Diversity and the Hidden Truths of Tenure, edited by Patricia A. Matthew, and Mirror’s Edge by Scott Westerfield are always a mix of research and a bit of fun.

Broad News: What advice would you give someone new at Broad?

Sandoval-Chavez: As a piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I mean this not just as you learn things but also on how and why you do things. I am very curious by nature, so that was a bit hard at first, but remember you were brought in for a reason. The answers may not always be what we want to hear, but you get to learn more about the “why” of it all. That can help create a better approach or even perspective of things. Also, everyone here is very helpful.