From coffee shop to campus cornerstone

When Lori Driessnack closed the doors of her beloved Mount Pleasant coffee shop, University Cup, she wasn’t stepping away from students—she was stepping toward them.

“I realized that what I was doing every day with my baristas—supporting, encouraging, guiding them through college—wasn’t all that different from student success coaching,” Driessnack said.

After years of informally mentoring CMU student employees, Driessnack made it official—first as a success coach, then as an academic advisor in the College of Business during the pandemic. When the opportunity arose to help support students beyond the walls of the classroom, she knew it was the right fit. The chance to build something from the ground up—centered around relationships, support, and community—aligned perfectly with her strengths and passion.

“When the opportunity came to help launch a new student engagement office in Grawn Hall, I jumped at it,” she said. “I love building things. I did it with the coffee shop. I was excited to do it again—this time with students at the center.”

Today, Driessnack is the Associate Director of Student Engagement & Professional Development and Director of the Business Residential College (BRC), where she’s helped build a vibrant, welcoming space known as the HUB.

Working alongside HUB Director of Student Engagement Amy McGinnis, she’s poured in the same heart that made her a student favorite behind the counter.

“Giving gifts” and building a village

At the core of Driessnack’s approach is her belief that the best thing adults can give students isn’t advice—it’s presence, listening, and connection.

“If you want to support a student, the best gift you can give is to not offer advice too quickly,” she said. “Ask good questions. Help them name their biggest challenge. And then connect them with a network that can help them grow.”

That network—the village—is what the HUB is designed to build. Whether it’s hands-on learning opportunities, peer mentors, résumé reviews, or quiet encouragement, the HUB team helps students say yes to support beyond the classroom.

“Students succeed when they feel seen,” Driessnack said. “We want this space to feel like home. We want them to walk in and know they’re not in this alone.”

The power of soft skills and small moments

Driessnack’s student team—now 17 strong—plays a key role in that experience. Highly trained, deeply empathetic, and always ready to go the extra mile, they reflect the culture she has built: one of care, excellence, and empowerment.

“One conversation can change a student’s entire trajectory,” she said. “That’s the honor of this work. I don’t want to miss a single chance to help someone feel more confident, more capable, more connected.”

It’s the same mindset she brings to the Business Residential College, where first-year students fast-track their development through professional programming and intentional community. For those ready to engage, it’s a game changer.

“They come in and get access to everything the college offers—just earlier and more often,” she said. “It’s like drinking from a firehose—but with support, guidance, and people who care.”

Fail forward, and ask good questions

When asked what students need to hear most, Driessnack doesn’t hesitate.

“Normalize the struggle. There will be hard days. That doesn’t mean you’re not supposed to be here,” she said. “Ask for help. Learn how to advocate for yourself. And don’t be afraid to fail forward.”

Her energy is contagious. Her belief in students is constant. And her impact is quietly transformational.

“It’s all about people,” Driessnack said. “And if we can help our students recognize that—if we can give them the right questions and the right connections—then we’re setting them up for a lifetime of success, not just a four-year degree.”