Rose McCray

Sociology/Anthropology Major – Anthropology

What co-curricular or extracurricular activities were you involved in?

Marching band, Anthropology Club, study abroad in Aix-En-Provence, France, many activities with the Art Department.

What are you doing now?

I recently started working at Centene as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator. I also volunteer at the Saint Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and the Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

How did you get to this place in you life/ career?

I had a few medical setbacks that changed my plans quite a bit. Along the way, I worked as a substitute teacher in St. Louis, before moving to Milwaukee where I worked at the children’s museum Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. I moved back to St. Louis, where I got medical treatment and worked for Express Scripts for 3 years, before settling in at my current position at Centene.

Have you been to graduate school? If so, where did you go? Did you go right after graduating from Truman?

No. I tried but was never accepted for various reasons. I would like to try again at some point. My current employer offers tuition reimbursement that I would like to look into.

Do you have any advice for Truman students who are interested in going to graduate school?

It helps a lot if your GPA is at the minimum requirement. Don’t be afraid to set up meetings with professors in the department you are interested in going into. Even if it’s just for a basic information meeting.

How has the education you’ve received from Truman helped you?

Everyone that knows Truman knows what a great school it is. People have high expectations for those with a degree from the university. I’ve had quite a few opportunities from employers and the like when I tell them I have one. As for myself, I enjoy using the critical thinking skills that I learned, whether for my own pursuits or career advancement. I was also well prepared to handle the challenges of life after finishing school. Truman helped me learn to be more flexible with my plans as well as the perseverance to get through anything, be it a hard paper, finals, or anything else.

Is/are there any particular class(es) that you’re glad you took? Did you like it/them at the time?

Ethnobiology, Darwinism (JINS course), Peoples of the Russian Empire, Printmaking. These were some of my favorite classes and I feel I took a lot away from them. I am also very glad I took Fibers II, but did not enjoy it at the time.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Truman?

I believe it was called Baldwin Underground? In the basement, they had set up different rooms where you experienced various types of stigmas and cultural biases. So there was religious persecution, people with disabilities, mental illness, homelessness, etc. Each room had an activity based around it’s theme that showed some of the daily challenges and effects of living with them long term. It was very eye opening and has stuck with me all this time. Also pumpkin carving on the quad and the lectures they would hold in McClain. 

Why is Truman a good school at which to study?

Truman has a great atmosphere. The smaller campus size is great for helping shyer students come out of their shell, The faculty and staff are very engaging and always willing to help, no matter the question. The campus is very self sufficient, there are plenty of activities and events for students to enjoy. I believe students get to have better relationships with their professors since they are more accessible than at other universities. The sense of belonging at Truman is very strong, and it is something I still miss after graduating.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to go into the same line of work as you?

If you can juggle multiple projects at once and know which have the higher priority you’ll do fine. Keep a positive attitude, and don’t be afraid to get things done at your own pace sometimes. Quality over quantity matters most often.

What do you miss most about campus life/ living in Kirksville?

Having all of my friends in one place! Also Fireside Fridays.

If you could teach current students one thing, what would it be?

Try not to stress too much. I know you probably hear this a lot, but everything will turn out ok in the end.