Stoetzner spoke Wednesday at “Her Story,” a lecture series hosted by the Women’s Center and the Women’s Commission, about her journey to Grand Valley State University.

Currently in its eighth year, “Her Story” introduces nominated speakers in leadership positions on campus. The event originally targeted an audience of faculty and staff so they could learn about their coworkers. Now it caters to students as well.

“Many times students see a staff member as a finished product and think there was an easy path for them,” said Jo Ann Wassenaar, associate director of the Women’s Center.

This is not always the case, Wassenaar said. In many instances, it is about embracing an opportunity or taking a chance.

Stoetzner ambled up to a chair on crutches in front of a room of more than 60 students and faculty to tell her story about taking risks and being flexible.

Growing up in Marquette, Mich., in a county inhabited by more deer than people, Stoetzner’s family preened her early for higher education. When she graduated from the fifth grade, her present was a set of plates for college.

The first major decision she had to make was where to go to college. Her parents told her she could not to go to Northern Michigan University because it was so close to home.

“If I’m going to go, then I’m going to go,” Stoetzner said.

One summer her family went on school tours throughout the United States. She visited Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Va., which she described as a finishing school for southern belles.

She told the audience to picture her as a “Yooper,” wearing a flannel shirt and boots riding a snowmobile amid a class of southern belles. To a room of laughter, Stoetzner said it was not a good fit.

She decided to go to Kalamazoo College and worked in the admissions office part time. After graduation, she worked in the admissions department at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis.

Stoetzner said she spent most of her time on the road only to come back for three-hour “You Suck” staff meetings while working for a “dragon lady.”

“How can I suck enough to cover three hours?” Stoetzner asked the audience members, who continuously laughed at her anecdotes.

After two years, Stoetzner got a job at Grand Rapids Community College near her future husband. Four years later, she applied with 25 other applicants to be an International Student Services Coordinator at GVSU.

In her position, Stoetzner supports 322 students from 72 countries, who she fondly describes as her “babies.” She still stays in contact with previous students through e-mail or social networking.

“I have more than one-thousand friends on Facebook,” she said. “These are the big indicators of success in your life.”

Stoetzner, through her comedy and stories, held most audience members captive throughout the speech. Some students went to the event for LIB 100 or US 201 classes.

Kaitlyn Laug, who attended for her U.S. 201 course, said she was initially apprehensive about attending the event. However, when Stoetzner finished, Laug said the 45 minutes flew by.

“It is a great thing for girls to see how you rise up from students to leaders in your profession,” she said.

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