“I do really love my job. Daily, I do things, and I think, oh, that’s why I love my job!” says Kristi Nemelka, one of Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Concurrent Enrollment Advisors.

Kristi was born in Washington State, but her family moved to a farm in Lehi, Utah when she was still a young child. After graduating from Lehi High School, Kristi spent a year at Dixie State University, now Utah Tech University, in St. George studying fashion merchandising. She soon met and married her husband, after which she began cosmetology school.

Once Kristi finished cosmetology school, she and her husband moved to Logan where he finished his degree at Utah State University. While there, Krisit worked at a salon and she and her husband had four children. After trying to become pregnant for many years, Kristi and her husband decided to adopt. They adopted, and the very next day, she found out she was 12 weeks pregnant. Giving their family two amazing miracles!

After her husband graduated, they moved their family to Aurora, Utah for his job. While living in Aurora, Krisit had a salon in her home. Later they relocated their family to Salem, Utah where they had another baby. Eventually, they ended up in Heber, Utah, and they have been there for eighteen years.

Krisit worked in the school system as an aid and a substitute teacher while her children were young. But once they went to school, Kristi went back to school at UVU and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English. While going to school, she also worked for UVU at the Wasatch campus as a live interactive facilitator.

While attending and working for UVU, Kristi took on further responsibilities as a writing tutor and administrative assistant for campus issues. Three years later, a new position was created in Concurrent Enrollment to bring Community Education back to the Wasatch campus, and Kristi took on the role. As a part-time employee, she was working across three departments and successfully brought Community Education completely back.

Once Kristi graduated with her bachelor’s degree, she was offered her current full-time position as the first Wasatch campus Concurrent Enrollment Advisor. In this position, she works with Concurrent Enrollment’s Director of Advising in planning team meetings and retreats, hiring, and training. She still advises students, assists in information and presentation, and works with coordinators and high school counselors.

Kristi said her daughter took many Concurrent Enrollment classes in high school, putting her way ahead in her educational career. She spoke about how Concurrent Enrollment can do this for every student if they have the desire to do so. “The thing that excites me the most is when I see students accomplish something they didn’t think they could do. It just sets them up to do more and want to go on.”

“I do really love my job. Daily, I do things, and I think, oh, that’s why I love my job!” We are so grateful to have Kristi as part of our team, and daily, she does things that remind us why we love having her as one of our Concurrent Enrollment Wolverines!