Cierra Abbott

How did you discover Western?

I came to Western from Austin, Texas back in 2017 to begin my undergraduate career and have stayed ever since!

What are some of the highlights of your career?

I started working in Campus Recreation at Western as a Intramural Sports Official and Supervisor in 2017. I was an EPIC Mentor from Spring of 2019 until Fall of 2020. I was accepted into the Outdoor Industry MBA accelerated program in 2020. I graduated summa cum laude with my undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Environment and Sustainability in 2021, and recently graduated summa cum laude from the OIMBA program in 2022. After graduation, I was hired as the new Assistant Director of Campus Recreation- Recreational Sports in August of 2021.

What most excites you about your field?

I am most excited by the everyday interactions with students. Seeing the direct impact that both Intramural Sports and Club Sports have on students is why I do my job. I was a NCAA and Club Sports student-athlete, and a Intramural Sports participant as an undergraduate student. The opportunities I had from Club Sports and Intramural Sports are what kept me from transferring out of Western. I loved the community I had built, and it made Western a more inviting place for me. This is what drove me to work in Campus Recreation. By providing programming and competitive play opportunities for students, I am helping them build community at Western.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

My favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley is the access to outdoor recreation. I love to mountain bike and trail run with my dog, Benny, in the summers and to charge hard up on Mount Crested Butte in the winter. No matter the time of year, rain, snow, or shine, there is always something to do outside in Sunny Gunni!