USU Eastern’s new shining light: Nate Moore

The Admissions Office at USU Eastern has a new Specialist, Nate Moore. A native of Florida, Moore spent most of his life growing up on the East Coast. When he was in high school, his family took a trip to Moab, and Moore recalled being blown away by the scenery. After college, he had an opportunity to move and work in a wilderness program. Moore never looked back and made Utah his home. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors and spending time with his family.

“I am married with two children, Abel (nine) and Brighton (10). I like spending time with them as much as I can, and being a father is probably my favorite thing ever,” Moore said. 

Moore has always enjoyed working with high school and college students. Moore stated, “I find that [this] age group is so creative and optimistic about the future. I think many adults lose their sense of wonder and excitement over the years, and I find that working with younger adults helps me maintain that perspective. 

Moore was originally hired at USU Eastern to teach a rock-climbing class, but soon discovered himself looking for more opportunities. 

“I was initially hired to teach a rock-climbing class at USU and thought to myself, ‘It would be great to work here full time,’ so I kept an eye on the careers page until I saw the admissions specialist position open up,” Moore said. 

Moore has been a part of the Eastern family for a little over a year now and has enjoyed his time on campus. “My first year has been great! I really enjoy working with the admissions team, ambassadors, and high school students and staff. The campus is beautiful, and I’ve enjoyed visiting the BDAC or playing disc golf during my lunch breaks. Sometimes [traveling] is a lot, but I’d rather be doing that than sitting in my office all day,” Moore said.

Moore was most surprised by the amount of travel that an Admissions Specialist has to do. His territory is based in Utah County, so he spends a lot of time driving up Spanish Fork Canyon. 

“I was surprised to learn how much travel was involved. I didn’t realize I’d be working with schools in Utah County so that was an interesting discovery. I’ve driven Spanish Fork Canyon so many times I think I can do it in my sleep now (not that I do),” Moore said.

Moore owed a lot of credit to Kevin VanderSpek, Senior Admissions Specialist, for helping him step into his role. The resources that he provided have helped Moore understand his job to the fullest. “Kevin has probably been the best resource I’ve had to learn the ropes. There are plenty of trainings that have helped too, but Kevin is so knowledgeable and accessible; he’s been my go-to from day one,” Moore said. 

Moore said his favorite part of the job is connecting with the students. “I like it when I get to connect with a student and help them see that the future they hope for is attainable through dedication, hard work, and a little help from USU, of course,” Moore said. 

As an Admissions Specialist, Moore works closely with the Ambassador team on campus. Moore stated, “The ambassadors are fun to work with. I appreciate each ambassador’s unique personality and perspectives. They are all so hardworking and willing to help out even when they’re not required to. They are, as a whole, an extremely positive, fun, and inspiring group of people to be around.” 

Recently, having suffered the loss of his father-in-law, Moore said the biggest challenge of his job so far has been getting caught up. “My father-in-law passed away recently during a very busy time of year. It’s been challenging to keep up with everything while having to take time off unexpectedly, and I’m not feeling 100% either. It’s something I’m still trying to work through to be honest, but everyone in the admissions team has been willing to help out and make sure I’m doing OK,” Moore said. 

Being an Admissions Specialist involves interacting with many people and managing various situations. When Moore doesn’t know something, he doesn’t stray away from helping out. “I’m a big follow up guy. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I always make the effort to find the answer and circle back with an answer or facilitate a connection with someone else better equipped to handle someone’s issue or request,” said Moore. 

If Moore could give advice to any college student, it would be, “My advice for college students is to enjoy the experience. Careers come with a whole different set of responsibilities than you have now. Enjoy this time of life where you’re fully an adult, but can still (often time) get away with still being a kid too,” said Moore. 

Moore believes that the community is what sets USU Eastern apart from any other college, he stated, “The community in my opinion. I didn’t go to school here, but my perspective is that USU is truly an inclusive and supportive environment dedicated to student success.”

USU Eastern is very lucky to have Moore as an admissions specialist. If you have any questions for Moore, visit him in the Admissions Office or email him at [email protected].