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Malania Birney’s journey with Kent State’s Recreation and Wellness Services began in 2019 when she began seeking out a campus student employment role. Encouraged by current friends who spoke highly of their experiences, she eventually joined the Operations team as an Assistant. Over time, through consistent professional advancement, Malania took on the role of Facility Supervisor for the Operations area.

During her time at RecWell, Malania contributed to the Human Resources and Moral Committee and worked as a Reservations Specialist, helping manage private and community events for the Recreation and Wellness Center. Her roles gave her hands-on experience in the hiring process, event coordination, and peer mentorship. As she reflected on her growth, she noted the importance of serving as a peer-to-peer student leader. Malania participated in interviews and contributed to hiring decisions, giving her early exposure to professional-level responsibilities. All of which were later applied in her workforce. 

“I was simply looking for a better job on campus,” Malania remembers. “I didn’t realize how much professional development I would gain.” She reflected on how rare it was to leave college with that level of leadership experience.

Outside of skills, RecWell provided Malania with something equally meaningful: community. She was introduced to many of her closest friends and connections, whom she maintains to this day. The staff and coworkers around her curated a supportive environment where even the small, lighthearted moments made each shift memorable. As many of the former and current staff describe, Malania stated that the people made the experience, and challenged and encouraged growth.

Beyond RecWell, Malania was a Political Science major and expanded her academic experience through Kent State’s Washington Program in National Issues (WPNI). This then led to an internship as a Congressional Intern for the United States Senate in Washington, D.C. After graduating in 2021 and earning her Bachelor of Arts, she transitioned into government affairs. Malania now serves as a Legislative Services Consultant for the Ohio School Boards Association. In her role, she advocates public education policy, analyzes legislation, and guides school districts on how proposed bills may affect the community. 

With her roles at RecWell, Malania has credited much of her professional confidence to the leadership foundation she built. Managing peers, critical thinking, and effective communication, all prepared her for the nature of policy work.

Her advice for current students at RecWell is clear: “Immense yourself fully. Pursue those leadership roles, join those mentorship programs, and take advantage of every opportunity.”

When asked what it feels like to be a former Flash, Malania answers stating she finds joy in connecting with fellow alumni and carries her Golden Flash pride into every stage of her career. For her, Kent State is a special place.