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With a background in music, health care, and administration, Northrop finds purpose in helping others and building connections.
When April Northrop was a child, she often spent her afternoons at the church in Southwest Kansas where her mother worked as a secretary. She'd sit beside her mother's desk, typing imaginary documents on a typewriter, and help prepare materials for church events. At the time, Northrop didn't imagine she'd eventually follow a similar career path. She had other plans, and they involved music.
Today, as the newest administrative office assistant in Central Michigan University's College of Business Administration, Northrop sees a connection between those early experiences, her musical background and the work she's excited to do in Business Student Services.
Northrop discovered her passion for music in fifth grade when she picked up a clarinet. With limited resources for private lessons, she taught herself much of what she needed to know, eventually performing at state conferences and pursuing a college degree in music. She planned to become a conductor, but a cancer diagnosis during her senior year of college changed the direction of her career. Treatment and lasting health effects meant she could no longer pursue performance as she'd originally envisioned.
After completing her bachelor's degree in music, Northrop began exploring other professional opportunities. She found work at a veterinary hospital in Nevada, where she discovered that administrative responsibilities could offer something she had always valued about music: meaningful connections with people.
"There’s a really social aspect to music, and that connection with people is what drew me to it in the first place," Northrop said.
One experience in particular helped her recognize the impact she could have. An older client called the veterinary hospital seeking care for his dog. Northrop helped him arrange an appointment, and when he arrived, he asked her to accompany him for support. She stayed with him through the difficult decision to say goodbye to his pet.
The experience reinforced that even in a role focused on scheduling and administrative responsibilities, there were opportunities to make a difference in someone's life.
"You can work in business and still have meaningful connections with people and make a positive impact on their lives," Northrop said.
Northrop later moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she worked in hospital administration, continuing to build her organizational and interpersonal skills. Those experiences helped prepare her for her next opportunity at CMU.
Northrop and her husband, Nathan, came to Mount Pleasant after he was accepted into a graduate program at CMU. The couple had considered several universities, looking for a place that would be a good fit academically and personally.
"We really felt CMU was the whole package," Northrop said.
While Nathan moved to Michigan to begin his studies, Northrop stayed in Wichita to continue working and searching for a position. She initially focused on opportunities in health care and business before discovering that CMU was hiring. She applied for several positions and found that the administrative office assistant opening in Business Student Services was especially well suited to her experience.
Now, she's looking forward to supporting students as they navigate their college experiences, whether they're stopping by with questions, seeking assistance or beginning their first campus jobs. Northrop is particularly excited about working with student employees and helping them develop skills they'll carry into their careers.
"I love being able to bridge that gap ... here's your first real-world job with some training wheels," she said. "So let me help you prepare, and get out there and succeed."
Although she's still getting settled into her new position, Northrop said the welcome she's received has already made an impression. She's appreciated having colleagues who encourage questions, offer support, and take an interest in getting to know her beyond her job responsibilities.
"I feel comfortable asking questions and admitting when I don’t know something because I know I’ll have the support I need to learn," Northrop said.
That sense of community is something she hopes to extend to the students she works with. Having experienced significant changes in her own education and career, she understands that people don't always follow the paths they originally imagined.
For Northrop, what matters most is finding opportunities to learn, contribute, and build relationships along the way. As she settles into Business Student Services, Northrop is excited to get to know the students and colleagues who make up the CBA community and help them find their own opportunities to succeed.
