Friday, June 4, 2021

Part of a regular series.

Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes who are members of their respective institutions’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition to providing feedback on the student-athlete experience, conference and institutional SAAC members also offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

Name: Malia Seeley
Sport: Rowing
Institution: Humboldt State University
Year: Junior
Major: Environmental Resources Engineering
Hometown: Polson, Montana

Why Did You Choose To Attend Humboldt State?: I chose to attend Humboldt State because of the beautiful Northern California location and the small and close-knit community.

What Is Your Favorite Class You Have Taken And Why?: My favorite class is Statics and Dynamics, an engineering class that focuses on applying physics to structural aspects of the world.

Who Is Your Favorite Professor And What Did You Enjoy About Learning From Him Or Her?: Engineering professor Liza Boyle is my favorite professor. She did a good job in transitioning her class to an online platform through Zoom calls and YouTube videos. I still feel like I am learning just as much as I did in her in-person class, which I truly appreciate.

Years Involved In SAAC: Two years.

The Reason You Chose To Get Involved In SAAC: I chose to get involved in SAAC so I could get to know my peers from the other teams. The rowing team practices early in the morning about eight miles away from campus. We sometimes feel distanced from other teams on campus. I hope to help the rowing team further develop its bond with the rest of the athletic department through my involvement in SAAC.

Most Memorable SAAC Activity To Date: I enjoyed volunteering at the local elementary schools. It was awesome to answer all of the questions that the children had about our respective sports. I could see how much we inspired them.

How Do You Feel Participating In SAAC Will Help You In Life After You Graduate?: Participating in SAAC has shown me how much collaboration goes into uniting different teams in one organization. This will help me in the workforce and in other aspects of life after college.

What Does It Mean To You To Be A Division II Student-Athlete?: Being a Division II student-athlete means being a part of a close-knit team that prioritizes success in both academics and athletics. The smaller team sizes mean there are no days off. There is constant attention on each athlete, so we need to perform at our best.

What Is The Most Important Thing You’ve Learned About Balancing Athletics And Academics?: I have learned that it’s important to plan all of the things I need to get done and stay organized. It's also important to take breaks from assignments and make sure I have time every day to de-stress.

Biggest Obstacle Overcome During Your Collegiate Career: My biggest academic obstacle has been learning how to code because I hadn't done any coding prior to college. It has been frustrating at times, but looking back at how much progress I have made is satisfying. My biggest athletic obstacle is constantly breaking down and rebuilding my stroke during every rowing practice. Rowing requires coachability and humility. My stroke will never be perfect and I should always look for ways to improve.

Favorite Thing About Competing In The GNAC: My favorite thing about competing in the GNAC is the rivalry between schools that is passed down year after year.

Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: My favorite regatta was the WIRA Championships during my freshman year. Everyone on our novice team learned how to row during that season and we crushed the competition. I was proud to be a part of such a motivated group of women.

If You Could Change One NCAA Rule, It Would Be: If I could change one NCAA rule, I would allow more coaching hours during the offseason.

Best Advice You’d Give To An Incoming Freshman: Get involved in as many extracurricular activities as you can. It has helped me immensely to get involved in clubs within my major because I have gotten to know upperclassmen and professors who have given me tons of great advice.

If You Could Spend The Day With One Person (Past Or Present), Who Would It Be (And Why)?: I would spend the day with Sue Bird. I love the way she approaches her training. She also uses her platform as arguably the greatest female basketball player of all-time to voice her opinions and make a difference.

Extracurricular Activities: Society of Women in Engineering, rowing, rollerblading, hiking and skiing.

Future Goals After Graduation: I want to work for an engineering firm in the renewable energy field. I hope to get my professional engineering certification soon after I graduate. I also plan to compete in triathlons when I am finished with rowing.

Favorite Sports Team: Seattle Storm.

Favorite Athlete: Sue Bird.

One Thing People Don’t Know About You Is: I competed in cross country and track and field in high school but decided to row in college because I wanted to try something different.