Beyond Kelley Hall: How two alumni found careers and love at Muskingum University

By Katelyn Lindsey

It was September 2007, and Cheyenne Haines embarked on her first day at Muskingum University. She was still settling into her dorm at the infamous Kelley Hall, the old-fashioned brick dormitory atop one of the campus’ many hilltops. Cheyenne initially felt apprehensive about leaving home and living in a dorm as she made her way to the dorm’s common room to meet up with some newfound friends. The room was dimly lit, and the decor looked like it had not changed since the 1970s. In the corner of the room was Nathan Haines.

Nathan and Cheyenne Haines / Photo provided by Cheyenne

Nathan sat comfortably nested at a table in a far corner, savoring one of his usual go-to meals at the time: cold ravioli straight from the can. It was a scene that perfectly encapsulated the charm of student life (and student diets). Just two months later, Cheyenne and Nathan started dating.

Now, over sixteen years later, Cheyenne and Nate are happily married. They both look back fondly at their time at Muskingum. The university was a place that allowed them to discover their passions and foster growth.

That Friday afternoon at Muskingum University, I had the pleasure of being able to interview Cheyenne and Nate. I nervously sat in the welcome center of the University library; the large windows displayed an ever-gray sky and pouring rain.

My phone had buzzed with a text message from Cheyenne stating that they had arrived. I rushed to the glass double doors at the library’s entrance. The pair had entered, looking as if they hadn’t been touched by a gust of wind or a stray raindrop.

Cheyenne and Nate both looked around the library. They noted how different the library had looked since they had last been there. I wondered how strange it must be to try to find familiarity in a place that is now unfamiliar.

I led them down to the quiet floor of the library and opened the door to the study room I booked for the interview. As we sat down, I could feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement in the air.

Cheyenne graduated from Muskingum University in 2010 with a double major in journalism and political science. She was a DJ for WMCO and an editor for the student newspaper “The Black and Magenta.” By her final semester, Cheyanne had become the paper's editor-in-chief.

The Black and Magenta, 2010 / Photo provided by Cheyenne

“In some ways, I got it [her degrees] right. I think the political science degree was right for me. I enjoyed journalism while I was here, but journalism has evolved a lot over the last 10 years,” Cheyenne said.

Cheyenne is currently the director for Front Porch Strategies, an award-winning communications firm that assists political candidates with connecting to the public. It is a career that builds upon the communication skills she learned at Muskingum, in addition to her passion for political science.

 “It's the right fit for me,” Cheyenne said.

Nathan graduated from Muskingum in 2010 with a double major in business and economics, accompanied by a minor in history. During his college years, Nathan was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

A skill that he takes away from his major is the ability to express his thoughts and have meaningful conversations. Nathan learned how to build a solid foundation for these skills inside and outside of the classroom at Muskingum.

 Nathan believes that the art of communication is just as valuable as learning any statistic or formula. He has applied this skillset of effective communication to various past jobs and to his current career as an advisor for AutoZone Distribution Center.

“You know, there's a lot of situations where you've got to have difficult conversations with people, and that basis really started here with the classes I had to take,” Nathan said.

Cheyenne also agreed that communication is a valuable skill she learned while at Muskingum.

 “I would say that [communication skills] absolutely started here, and it's not just from the classes or the things that were expected from me in class,” Cheyenne said. “It was also from being around a different group of people and a wide range of people from different backgrounds that helped with that.”

As the interview concluded, I led the pair back to the glass doors of the library welcome center. They bid me farewell in the quiet atmosphere of the library, and I watched them leave through the rained-soaked windows. As a current student at Muskingum University, it was interesting to see how this campus fosters the growth of skills and relationships that last for years.