Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!
What led you to your career path?
I started my college journey in nursing, but balancing full time work and single motherhood at that time, the course load became too demanding, and I stepped away for a bit. When I returned, I knew I wanted to move into a professional office role, so I enrolled in the Business Administration A.A.S. program.
Two required accounting courses completely changed my direction. I realized how much I enjoyed working with numbers, solving discrepancies, and making everything balance. That experience led me to pursue my B.S. in Accounting at SUNY Empire.
During my final year, I worked as a student assistant in the Accounting Services department, and shortly after graduating, I was offered a full time role in the same office. I’m still early in my career, but I’ve found a place where I feel supported, challenged, and excited to grow for years to come.
What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?
How accessible it is to so many people. The university’s ability to support students and help them achieve their goals through an online learning platform is truly a gift for those with busy lives, unique circumstances, or non-traditional schedules. I feel honored to be part of an institution that is committed to making education attainable for everyone—no matter where they live, how old they are, or what stage of life they’re in.
What’s one moment in your career that you’re especially proud of?
We’ve been working on improving the travel pre-approval process to make it more user-friendly. As part of that project, I was asked to develop a way to automatically send travel vouchers directly to travelers’ email accounts. I was proud to find a solution using Microsoft Excel that now allows us to send vouchers automatically. It was exciting to contribute to a smoother, more efficient experience for our travelers.
What fictional character resonates with you the most?
Wonder Woman resonates with me because she is a strong woman who knows she can take on anything, yet she still leads with compassion. I became strong because, at one point in my life, strength was the only option I had—and over time, it became part of who I am. Like her, I believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. At the same time, I have a big heart that helps me see things from other people’s perspectives, and that balance of strength and empathy is something I really connect with.
What’s something that always makes you feel grounded?
My family. I am a mother to a total of six children (four biological and two bonus) and a wife. Whenever I need a moment to remember what my life is truly about, I turn to them. Sometimes it’s a bear hug from my husband or cuddles from my boys, and other times it’s simply standing back and watching them play. I love my family—they definitely keep me on my toes, but they are also my whole world.