Spotlight on CFANS Student Engagement Team (CSET)

By Elena Mathern, BS ‘25, Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management

The CFANS Student Engagement Team (CSET) aims to create a supportive and inclusive student environment. CSET's mission is to empower students and create a sense of belonging through programming, mentorship, and community-building initiatives.

For those who haven’t met you, can you tell us about yourself and what led you to your role in CSET?

Hi! My name is Sophie (she/her), and I’m the CFANS Student Engagement Coordinator. I graduated from Hamline University with a degree in Music & Social Justice. As an undergraduate student, I worked in the theatre, in our orientation program, and I was the president of Hamline Students for Reproductive Justice and founded our Zine Club. I held multiple internships focused on LGBTQIA+ community health, marketing, and communications. I’ve always enjoyed putting events together and connecting people with new (and old) things they love!

My role aims to increase student engagement at CFANS through intentional programming that fosters an inclusive environment for our students. CSET offers a wide range of programs and events throughout the year, and I aim to encourage students to engage with one another on campus. Some of these events include celebrations of First Generation and Transfer Students, end-of-semester parties, resume workshops, an extensive leadership certification program, and so much more! 

CSET is a new team. What is your greater vision for CFANS Student Engagement as the campus continues to grow? 

As the Student Engagement Coordinator, I aim to help you navigate our campus community and connect you with the people and programs that interest you most. I hope every student in CFANS experiences at least one CSET event they never thought they’d try during their time here. I hope that, eventually, we will become an even larger office that can accommodate an even larger team to have a full programming board. The possibilities of what we’d be able to do are endless! 

What do you enjoy doing outside of the team?

While working full-time at CFANS, I am also in graduate school! I will graduate with my Master's in Leadership in Student Affairs from the University of St. Thomas next May. In my free time, I love making and selling zines at zine fests. I’m an artist who participates in many mediums, most notably zine-making, photography, music, and sound design. My passions include cooking and eating, education, fat liberation, laughing, and loving love. 

How does your personality/style influence the events that your team hosts?

I would say that my personality & style influences our team dynamics more than the events that we hold. It’s important to me that as a team we set intentions, understand what community engagement truly means, and really get to know and trust one another. Overall, we want students to know they belong at CFANS and can make lasting connections with their peers. The events are made by students, for students! Our events wouldn’t be possible without our student team’s creativity, energy, and flexibility. The events are more of a reflection of our team as a whole :) 

Can you talk about the mentorship aspect of CSET and how it intends to help students?

CSET aims to foster a mentorship relationship that is truly peer-to-peer. By having our student workers participate in CSET, they work together to create something really fun and meaningful. We hope that students who attend our events feel inspired to create similar gatherings with their friends! 

How can CFANS students to get involved?

Come to our events! The best way to get involved with CSET is to come to an event and try something new. You can attend an event for five minutes or stay the entire time. One of the easiest ways to find our upcoming events is through our Instagram.

Looking to jump into an event or two? Fill out our involvement form! Applications for our team open each spring or as spots open up; check our Instagram for updates. 

Is there anything else that you would like to highlight about CSET?

Please stop by Coffey Hall, Room 197 to visit our CSET office and meet our team! We often have treats, and we always have games. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on all the fun.