Vice President, Branch Manager at Town & Country Bank
Rolla, MO
AA, General Studies- Missouri State University- West Plains
BA, Global Studies- Missouri State University
Hometown: Salem, MO

“My goals have always encompassed the thought of developing oneself.”

For many students, college is about the end result, rather than the journey to the degree. In the push to get the associate’s or bachelor’s degree, some forget that the degree only matters as a representation of what one has learned along the way. For Emma Heithold, her journey at Missouri State University-West Plains and beyond has always remained the most important aspect of her education.

“For me, I had just graduated high school and still needed to develop my learning skills. The West Plains campus provided me with faculty and staff who wanted to provide a pathway for success,” Heithold said. “The furthering of my education, participating in clubs and making lifelong friends made my experience at Missouri State-West Plains one that has greatly impacted my life. It helped me build a foundation for learning, so when I moved forward with my education after receiving my Associate of Arts degree, I was prepared.”

As part of her journey, in her sophomore year, Heithold received an internship at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China, through Missouri State-West Plains’ China Semester Study Away Program. “The experience led me to pursue my degree in global studies with a minor in Chinese language and Asian studies,” she said. The business courses she learned on the Dalian campus taught her how to build relationships with customers, which she used to gain an international recruitment job prior to her career in banking. “The willingness to learn has helped me move upward.

“The willingness to learn has helped me move upward in each career.”

For Heithold, the act of learning, and not just the results, has been very beneficial for her. “I have been able to participate in clubs such as Rotary and Habitat for Humanity as a banking representative. I participated in the Selection Community for Habitat for Humanity, and now we are starting the groundbreaking of a home for a single mother and her three children,” she said. “I would say that being able to assist a customer in purchasing their first home has been quite rewarding.”

Heithold wants other prospective students to focus on their own journey and consider adding an “experimental” course or participating in a study abroad program. “It was very eye opening for me to learn more about myself. It helped me determine my degree path,” she said. “By remaining open and presenting the right attitude, there’s nothing you can’t achieve as a Grizzly.”