Shay Coffey Go After Your Purpose
STAFF PROFILE
Faces of LIFE
Shay Coffey is the Programs Coordinator for the Postgraduate Department at Life University . She previously worked in college admissions and enjoyed working in education ; however , in the end , she wanted to do something a little bit different . When Coffey applied to LIFE , she felt like it was just a good fit . “ I feel like when you are searching for something you just know . You can chase money , you can chase ambition , you can chase positions ,” explained Coffey , “ but if you are really going after your purpose and looking for some place where you belong , it brings its own rewards .”
As someone whose family was in the military , Coffey moved around a lot . “ I am from everywhere . I am a military brat , and my home base , if I had to pick , would be Pensacola , Florida because that is where the bulk of my family lives . I never really stayed anywhere more than five years ,” Coffey said . “ Atlanta , Georgia is the place I have lived the longest , for 14 years , and is my personal home .” Coffey shared that she has lived everywhere on the East Coast , and she also lived in Germany .
In her free time , she loves a nap , a good book , and historical movies . “ I am an avid reader . I love a good mystery novel ,” she shared . “ I love watching things like Downton Abbey . Any period piece is going to be my favorite .”
Coffey started working at LIFE in October 2018 . “ I just felt like I belonged . I had another job offer , but this is the one I took based on the feeling that I felt during the interview ,” Coffey said . She was so excited when she came home and told her husband that she thought she got the job . “ I don ’ t regret that decision at all ; I feel like this is where I was supposed to be . I absolutely love it , and I feel like I have learned so much since I ’ ve been here .”
“ I call my department the ‘ Fall CE Department ,’” Coffey said . “ We obviously do a lot more than that , but it is our department ’ s primary goal that we are working on year-round , and we also do continuing education for chiropractors .” The department sponsors programs and works with outside chiropractors on programs that they may want to create or change . They then apply to the state boards for approval . The Postgrad Department then processes those approvals process those approvals and send out the attendance forms . “ So , I almost feel like I am the continuing education registrar ,” Coffey explained .
Coffey doesn ’ t get out of her office much when she is working , which is why she tries to do a lot of events and workshops that LIFE offers , to do her best to meet other people on campus throughout the year . Her favorite ways that she is involved on campus include VitalU , Compassion Integrity Training and the Resiliency Zoom class that the Center for Compassion , Integrity and Secular Ethics has been hosting . “ I met so many people that I didn ’ t know before . It was such a neat experience to connect with so many new coworkers . I have built a lot of deep relationships through these amazing initiatives .”
She feels like her job requires her to be “ tuned in ” at all times . “ I spend my days reading through these programs and working with the doctors to let them know whether or not the board will approve their proposals ,” Coffey said . “ I am on the phone debating with other doctors on the number of hours they received based on the time that they were in class and handle audit requests to state boards .
“ My department is big on eating together too ,” she shared . “ So this is also included in a typical week . Cathy Stavovy-Bannister takes good care of us .” Coffey really enjoys the comradery and partnership that she feels in her department . “ We all work together . Robin Parker is our registration coordinator ,” she said . “ After I finish the programs , she takes it on from there to work with the doctors and get them room assignments and everything that they need for their seminar .” The rest of the year Coffey ’ s team is working on Fall CE so they can prepare a great experience for the doctors that come to the event .
Coffey ’ s advice to students is to follow your own path and get involved . “ Don ’ t get caught up in where your friends are going or what other people may think is the best thing for you . Following your own path will always lead you to where you want to be ,” Coffey said . “ Sometimes the journey is going to be longer ,
“ Following your own path will always lead you to where you want to be . Sometimes the journey is going to be longer , shorter or a full circle , but follow that path because it is your life , and you only get this time once .”
shorter or a full circle , but follow that path because it is your life and you only get this time once .”
When it comes to getting involved and building relationships , the start is being brave enough to say hello and start talking to someone . “ I love the philosophy that LIFE has where if you walk by someone , you speak ,” shared Coffey . “ Every relationship starts with that first conversation . A couple of hellos can lead to a lunch , and a lunch can lead to a lifetime friendship .”
34 Alumni . LIFE . edu | 2020