Brody Frieden

What is your current role at Barrett, and what are your primary responsibilities?

I serve as one of the Honors Advisors where I have the opportunity to connect with a caseload of our students in a variety of ways to explore their academic goals and guide them in completing the honors requirements. Most of my days are spent in appointments and emailing my students on a variety of topics, but I also assist in overseeing our front desk operations and Advising Student Leaders with Nicole Lindell as well as managing the enrollment in our signature courses, HON 171, 272, and 370, across all campuses.

What do you enjoy most about your job and working for Barrett?

I enjoy the immensely intelligent and creative students that I get to work and interact with. Many come to Barrett with such big goals, dreams, and ideas, and they find the most innovative ways to engage in everything they set their mind to. Whether it’s volunteering in research labs, engaging in multiple internships, pursuing 3 majors, or a variety of other things, our students are just plain neat. The pan-campus advising team is an outstanding bunch too and I come to work every day excited to get to collaborate with them!

What do you think sets Barrett apart as an employer and makes it a great place to work?

I think our small college feel within the larger university reflects not only the Barrett student experience, but also our staff experience. I feel that I have gotten to know a lot of the Barrett community in the roughly 3 years that I have been here. Our community is collaborative and excited to work with our students, and its reflected in the outcomes of the work we do. If I was in another department or college on campus or at another university, I may not have as much interactions with other offices, but some of my favorite parts of my job are getting to collaborate with the great folks in Admissions/Recruiting, Student Services, Events, etc.  

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of work?

As a former theater kid, I spend a lot of my time listening to showtunes and trying to find theater productions throughout the Valley to attend. If anyone has recommendations or want to chat about theater, please let me know! I also spend quite a lot of time playing pickleball! I picked it up in March 2022, and now my whole friend group, including fellow honors advisor, Sarah Mogytych, plays pretty frequently. If anyone wants to play, slack me!! I would love to get a faculty/staff game going.

Are there any charitable or volunteer activities you're passionate about or involved in?

I’m an avid volunteer with an international youth leadership organization, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, also known as HOBY. Our organization holds 3-4 day leadership seminars across the country as well as an international conference for rising high school juniors each summer. I attended my local seminar in Illinois in 2014 and have been a volunteer ever since. I have been on our Board of Directors for the past 4 years in a variety of roles. Our curriculum is based on the social change model of leadership and heavily influenced by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We focus on not only personal leadership development, but also volunteerism and the impacts that we as individuals can have on our communities. HOBY Arizona is a great group of people too, if anyone wants to get involved locally!

Is there a specific quote or mantra that resonates with you and guides your approach to life and work?

In my office on a little letter board, I have a quote from Dolly Parton that I really love. “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”