A Community of Care: How Student Affairs Supports Every Korbel Student

At the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, student success is built through a support network designed to help students navigate both the big picture of their academic journey and the day-to-day details that come with it. 

At the center of that network is Korbel’s Student Affairs team. 

Student Affairs provides valuable logistical and practical support that helps students move forward with confidence, from choosing and scheduling classes to developing long-term academic plans. Just as importantly, the team helps students cut through the complexity of a large university so they can focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and discovering their path. 

“I love helping people,” said Director of Graduate Student Affairs Debbie Gaylinn, who has spent almost a decade supporting Korbel students. “I love new challenges. Even though I’ve been here for such a long time, new questions come up daily, so it makes it interesting. If students come with hard questions, it’s like a puzzle. I love it and it gives me a thrill to try to make everything they want happen for them.” 

Debbie Gaylinn, Director of Graduate Student Affairs

Academic Support  

Korbel’s Student Affairs team supports both graduate and undergraduate students. 

For undergraduate students, support begins early and evolves over time. First-year advising is coordinated through the Office of Academic Advising, while Korbel’s Student Affairs team steps in more directly as students progress in their programs. From the second year on, Korbel undergraduates work closely with Student Affairs staff, including Mayumi Beckelheimer, Director of Undergraduate Programs.   

Mayumi Beckelheimer, Director of Undergraduate Programs

Mayumi has spent more than ten years at DU working in student service roles.  She currently works with hundreds of students across International Studies and Public Policy majors and minors every year. For Mayumi, advising is about more than course planning. It’s about connection. 

“I love student stories,” Mayumi said. “I love finding a personal connection with each person.” From remembering their dream car to gushing over their favorite foods, Mayumi builds genuine relationships with the many students who walk into her office. “I want to be the fun meeting.” 

In a large university environment, knowing where to go — and who to ask — can make all the difference. 

“Anytime students have a question, I would want them to start with us,” Debbie explained. “It’s a big university, and there are a lot of people. I hate to see students who are wandering around campus looking for something when I’ve been there for 20 years and can help them with their question.” 

That accessibility is reinforced not only by staff, but also by student employees, some of whom serve as peer advisors. These roles create a unique bridge between students navigating Korbel for the first time and those who have already learned how to make the most of it. 

“Everyone on our Student Affairs team is very intentional in creating a community of care for our students, where they also get to thrive academically,” said undergraduate Peer Advisor Lety Madrigal Tapia, as she talked about her “wonderful experience” working for the Student Affairs Office. “Throughout my job, I have learned more about Korbel and all it has to offer us as students – and, in turn, I get to share that with the students I advise.” 

Career Development and Experiential Learning Opportunities 

Beyond academics, Student Affairs plays a critical role in helping students translate their interests into real-world experiences that allow students to test their interests in various contexts and begin answering important questions about their future. 

Students have access to funding opportunities that support conference travel, immersive language programs abroad, and even emergency funding for international students, much of which is coordinated through Student Affairs. These resources are designed to remove barriers and ensure students can take advantage of opportunities that shape their academic and professional trajectories. 

Student Affairs also facilitates graduate study abroad programs, a particularly distinctive part of the Korbel experience. Through partnerships with other international relations schools around the world, students can participate in exchange programs while paying the same tuition they would on campus.  

In addition, Debbie and Mayumi also support student organizations and student government by providing guidance and resources that allow students to lead initiatives, build community, and develop leadership skills. 

Building Community and Connection 

While academic and professional development are essential, Student Affairs also plays a central role in ensuring students feel connected to each other, faculty, and the broader Korbel community.  

“What I love about Korbel is that we’re really trying to build a sense of community,” Mayumi said. “We try to make undergrads feel included and evolve the Korbel culture to incorporate students at all levels into the greater community.” 

Throughout the year, the team organizes events designed to bring students together, from larger quarterly outings – like group trips to the theater or trivia nights – to more intimate opportunities such as lunches with the Dean. These moments create space for connection beyond the classroom. 

“There’s so much to get involved with,” Debbie shared.  

For Debbie, among the most rewarding aspects of her work is seeing that sense of connection come full circle from orientation to graduation. 

“It’s so exciting to watch students come so far in two years and do such amazing things. I live vicariously through all of them.” she said. “It makes me feel hopeful about this generation and our future seeing these incredible people who care so much and are now so skilled.” 

Approachability and Everyday Support 

If there is one theme that runs through every aspect of Student Affairs, it’s approachability. 

For Debbie, Mayumi, and the entire Student Affairs staff, that means maintaining an open-door policy and making themselves available to students whenever they need support.  

“I love it when students stop by just to say hi,” Debbie said. “More than half of the students I meet with are walk-ins.” 

That consistency is intentional for the team, who understands how overwhelming it can feel to navigate a university, especially for new students. But strong communication and responsiveness can make that experience more manageable, shares Mayumi. 

“I hope I can be the constant support for students so it’s not so overwhelming to deal with everything,” Mayumi said. “I want to be the reassurance for people and the catch-all to direct them where to go.” 

In practice, that accessibility makes a lasting impact. Many students rely on the team not just for answers, but for that sense of reassurance. 

“The Student Affairs team has been instrumental in my experience at Korbel,” said Marisa Leagh Rugg, a second-year MA in International Studies student. “It doesn't matter if I send multiple emails, schedule another follow-up meeting, or just pop in with a question, I consistently leave each interaction with clarity and support. If they don't have the answer, they will always point me in the right direction or reach out on my behalf to gather the information I need.” 

A Commitment That Lasts 

For the Student Affairs team, this work is more than a role – It’s a long-term commitment to students and to the Korbel community. 

“The students always motivate me, as do the people I work with. No matter how good or bad my day is, I always want to show up for them,” said Mayumi. 

She also points to the culture of leadership within Korbel as a key part of that experience. 

“I really love Korbel,” she added. “I love our leadership and am building more ways to get students connected with them. Having worked with Dean Mayer, I have consistently felt the care and transparency that is always there. He really cares, and he addresses areas of growth and opportunities to celebrate.” 

At its core, Korbel’s Student Affairs team is built on a simple idea: Students should never have to navigate their university experience alone. Through academic guidance, professional opportunities, community-building, and everyday support, the team helps ensure that from day one, every student has the tools, relationships, and confidence to succeed.