MSU Advisor Spotlight - Matt Hahnenberg
Matt Hahnenberg with a prospective HRLR student.
From the Academic Advisor Training and Development - March Newsletter
In this month's highlighted spotlight, we take great pride in acknowledging Matt Hahnenberg. Joining MSU in 2014 as an academic advisor for the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major, Matt spoke highly of the training he received from IDS advising staff during that time—Regan Kania, Veda Hawkins, and Nicolas Gisholt. Since 2017, Matt has been a dedicated academic advisor for the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
Recognizing Matt's commitment to his students, a student recently shared this story: “Matthew played a crucial role in supporting me as I reached the graduation milestone and achieved my goal of becoming a Michigan State alum. I've had this goal since I was 11, inspired by family members who attended MSU, and I would come to visit during sibling weekends, hearing all the stories and witnessing their continued success as Spartan alumni. However, my journey faced a significant challenge when I was diagnosed with heart failure in 2017, leading to a pause in my education and many open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant in December 2019, I was determined to return to school.
Facing struggles in almost every semester, I met Mr. Hahnenberg, who became an essential part of my educational journey. He shared in my belief that I could succeed and provided valuable assistance by offering resources, advice, and career insights. While healthcare providers and career prospects seemed doubtful, Matthew broke everything down into digestible pieces, consistently finding ways for me to succeed. Even during moments when I contemplated giving up, he never doubted me while also keeping me honest.”
Though Matt has many accomplishments to be proud of, he shared:
"Commencement is such a joyous and wonderful event to witness, but the academic journey for a student has many highs and lows. It is the little victories and struggles that most don’t see behind the scenes. As advisors, we have the pleasure and unique challenge of supporting and empowering students to continue putting their best foot forward. Every student has their story to share. I am honored and consider it a great privilege that students share their journey with me. I am most proud and thankful in being able to share those experiences with my students."
Matt's contributions and positive impact on MSU advising and its students are deeply appreciated. Thank you for your dedicated efforts!