{"id":193795,"date":"2021-11-18T19:17:22","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T00:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=193795"},"modified":"2022-12-27T19:21:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T00:21:42","slug":"10-questions-from-jonathan-the-mascot-to-student-affairs-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2021\/11\/10-questions-from-jonathan-the-mascot-to-student-affairs-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Questions: From Jonathan the Mascot to Student Affairs Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jonathan
With UConn Spirit team are, from left, Joseph \u201986 (BUS), \u201995 MA, \u201996 Ph.D.; John \u201982 (BUS), \u201914 6th <\/sup>Year; Patrick \u201920 (CLAS), as Jonathan; and Diane Briody \u201987 (CLAS), \u201995 MA. Two generations of the Briody family, including John \u201982 and children Caitlin \u201919 (CLAS) and Patrick, have worn the UConn Husky mascot costume. (Photo credit: UConn Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In\u00a0our recurring 10 Questions series<\/a>, the Neag School catches up with students, alumni, faculty, and others throughout the year to offer a glimpse into their Neag School experience and their current career, research, or community activities.<\/em><\/p>\n

As UConn\u2019s assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of student activities, Joseph P. Briody \u201986 (BUS), \u201995 MA, \u201996 Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a> is a Husky through and through.<\/p>\n

From graduating with a bachelor\u2019s in accounting to attaining his master\u2019s in education and his doctorate in higher education administration, Briody shaped his career through an extensive academic career, paired with professional roles in accounting and nonprofit organizations \u2014\u00a0not to mention his earliest professional experience: dressing as UConn\u2019s quintessential Husky mascot, Jonathan. He was also instrumental in the mascot makeover<\/a>, and two generations of Briodys<\/a> have donned the costume. Here, he explores the factors that fueled his academic decisions, the responsibilities and accomplishments of his current position, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on his position.<\/p>\n

Q: Do you remember your first time as the Jonathan the mascot? If so, what was it like?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> I have many memories from being the mascot, but I\u2019m not sure I remember the very first time. It was most likely a football or soccer game at the start of the semester. I\u2019m also pretty sure I was pretty darn nervous \u2013 and hot! Inside, the suit got incredibly hot \u2013 even during the coldest football games. I\u2019d see fans all bundled up in hats and gloves, and I\u2019d be in shorts and a \u00a0<\/span>T-shirt inside the suit, sweating like crazy. I would also be remiss if I didn\u2019t mention that my favorite memory about being Jonathan is that I met my wife when I was the mascot (Diane Stackpole Briody \u201987 (CLAS), \u201995 MA<\/strong>)!<\/p>\n

Q: What motivated you to pursue both your master\u2019s in education and a doctorate in higher education administration at the Neag School?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> My advisor \u2013 (Neag School Professor Emeritus) Dr. William W. Jellema \u2013 was an incredible inspiration, motivator, and source of support to me. \u2026 I began exploring what type of graduate program would best prepare me for a possible career in higher education. I met Dr. Jellema, and he invited me to take a budgeting\/finance class as a non-matriculating student. The class fit with the work I was doing at the time (auditor). Through a series of conversations, he encouraged me to consider pursuing not only a master\u2019s, but also a doctorate.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph
“Don\u2019t be afraid to ask, raise your hand, and put yourself out there,” advises Joseph Briody \u201986 (BUS), \u201995 MA, \u201996 Ph.D. to UConn students. (Photo credit: UConn archives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q: How did your experiences at the Neag School prepare you for your career?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> Dr. Jellema was a significant influence on me \u2013 and continues to be. He was very challenging and did not accept anything less than your best work. In seminars, he always invited the perspectives and thoughts of everyone. Still, he also did not hesitate to challenge our thinking and push us to question the reasoning and logic behind our assertions. Some did not respond as favorably to his pushing \u2013 I never minded it \u2026 in fact, I appreciated it. Quick story: After completing the capstone (15,000-word) paper for my History and Philosophy of Higher Education class, I went up to Dr. Jellema\u2019s office to hand it in. As I handed it to him, he asked, \u201cHow is it?\u201d Casually I answered, \u201cPretty good, I think.\u201d He handed the paper back to me and said, \u201cGive it to me when it\u2019s great.\u201d Some might not have responded well to that kind of pushback. I thought it was great! It\u2019s the setting of a high bar and the different ways he did it that shaped my thinking and taught me to expect more of myself and my work.<\/p>\n

Q: Did you ever imagine coming back to work at UConn?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> Nope. Never. When I graduated from UConn with my BS in accounting and had a job lined up at a \u2018Big Eight\u2019 accounting firm, I never once thought I would be coming back. I never knew it was even possible \u2013 in any way, shape, or form. After spending a few great years in public accounting, I felt I needed to find something that I felt was more satisfying for me.\u00a0 <\/span>So I left my job voluntarily and began looking for jobs in the non-profit sector and eventually took a job as a corporate developer in a national non-profit.\u00a0 <\/span>While it was important work, it also wasn\u2019t quite a fit for me.\u00a0 <\/span>Leaning back on my financial\/accounting education and experience, I was offered a position here as an auditor.\u00a0 <\/span>It was a tremendous opportunity to learn about how this institution works \u2013 with incredible access to people and information.\u00a0 <\/span>This experience, coupled with my graduate education \u2013 which was well underway, led to a move to Student Affairs in business and eventually into a position working directly with students and developing educational programs\/services.\u00a0 <\/span>Life is funny \u2013 you think you\u2019re headed in one direction and then all of a sudden\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Joseph
Joseph Briody wears the UConn Jonathan mascot costume while gathering with fans at a UConn basketball game in 1986. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Briody)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q: What does your job entail, and what is the most challenging aspect of it?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> I support staff of 50-plus professionals and graduate students who engage, educate, and support students across campus in various out-of-the-classroom contexts and settings \u2013 from community service and leadership programs to various student involvement, student governance, and a multitude of other organizations and programs. The most challenging aspect is perhaps having to make difficult decisions that I know are not always well received by others. Although making such tough decisions is an aspect of managing any organization, no one enjoys it, and realizing the impact that some of my decisions can have on others weighs heavy at times.<\/p>\n

Q: Have there been any COVID-related challenges that have impacted your job?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A: <\/strong>Absolutely. COVID took a \u2018business model\u2019 that was predicated on bringing large groups of people together in relatively close proximity (classes, residence halls, dining halls, events, athletics, etc.) and turned it completely inside out. The \u2018engagement gap\u2019 we saw students experience over the past year-and-a-half was broad and deep, \u00a0<\/span>and very damaging \u2013 socially, emotionally, psychologically, and academically. My team was forced to rethink how we fill that \u2018gap\u2019 and help students engage, connect, and feel a part of this community while isolating and staying at home. Fortunately, they responded at such a high level \u2013 while dealing with the challenges of COVID themselves \u2013 that we are actually emerging from COVID, having learned important lessons and new ways of working with students that we have changed how we will move forward.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c<\/span>You\u2019re here (at UConn) because a lot of really smart people have determined you belong here \u2013 don\u2019t doubt yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013\u00a0<\/span>Joseph P. Briody \u201986 (BUS), \u201995 MA, \u201996 Ph.D.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Q: How did you get the idea to create uKindness<\/a> (an initiative to connect with students during the pandemic), and how did it perform last year? What is the future of the initiative, now that things are settling back to normal?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> The uKindness initiative was the result of countless discussions with colleagues and students about how to connect, engage, and inform students during the height of the pandemic when everyone was social distancing, remote learning, and living alone (some at home). Our data and feedback tell us that it effectively kept students informed and aware of resources available to them throughout the year. Judging from the levels of participation at some of our virtual and small in-person events, as well as web traffic and survey data, I think it served its purpose in bringing the community together during a challenging time. We\u2019ll be re-evaluating uKindness in the coming months to determine its future and what lessons we can take from it as well.<\/p>\n

Q: What are your goals for student affairs\/student activities now that campus is back at full capacity?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> Being back in person and close to capacity has been great for everyone \u2013 students and staff. Challenges do remain, however. The lingering effects of being socially distanced for 18 months are present in both our students and our colleagues. So, short term, my goal is to help create and support an environment where folks can readjust to being in closer proximity, perhaps relearn how to, and gain comfort with, engaging with each other in person. To that end, this past summer, I encouraged my staff to focus their training, orientations, and initial meetings\/programs with students less on content and more on building back the social and interpersonal skills that would allow all of us to operate in-person with confidence, respect, and success.<\/p>\n

Q: As someone who taught in leadership development, who has your biggest \u00a0<\/span>leadership role model been?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> I think of two people right off the bat. One is my oldest brother, John (Briody) \u201982 (BUS), \u201914 6th <\/sup>Year<\/strong>, who led through example and support throughout my life. In many ways, I would not be who I am and where I am without him. The other individual is someone I have shared with my students in my leadership classes. His name is John Ryan \u2013 someone I met 30 years ago who is probably 20 years my senior and has taught me about perspective, humility, compassion, responsibility, and how to move through life\u2019s challenges with grace and faith. I owe much to both Johns.<\/p>\n

Q: What lasting piece of advice would you give to UConn students?<\/h2>\n

A:<\/strong> Hmmm \u2026 probably some of the same advice my wife and I have given to our own children as they haveworked their way through college:<\/p>\n