Behind the scenes of Enrollment Services with Student Associate Michaela Kocher MPP 2026

The Enrollment Services team—comprised of several smaller teams including Admissions and Financial Aid, Data and Systems, Registrar, and Enrollment Marketing—is fortunate to work with students who help manage our office’s front desk. They answer phone calls, respond to emails from prospective students, and greet visitors to our office. 

We asked one of our Student Associates, Michaela Kocher MPP 2026, about her time working with Enrollment Services.

What have you learned since joining the Enrollment Services team?

One thing I learned quickly at HKS is how diverse students’ backgrounds and experiences are. Unlike my undergraduate experience, everyone comes to graduate school at a different time and for a different reason. At HKS, that’s even more pronounced: students range from right out of college to mid- and late-career, and they come from all over the world. Working with the Enrollment Services team has given me a front-row seat to how people on varied journeys converge at HKS each year—reminding me how fortunate we are to learn from one another.

What has surprised you as an Enrollment Services Student Associate?

I was surprised by how small but mighty the Enrollment Services team is. Every semester, registration is a massive undertaking, and it is impressive to see how it is run by such a small team. Additionally, each staff member wears multiple hats—from financial aid to recruitment to admissions—all while maintaining personal relationships with their current students.

How do you manage your time as a full-time student and part-time student employee?

I appreciate that I can schedule blocks of time to work with Enrollment Services. These shifts serve as built-in breaks from the constant rhythm of classes, assignments, and group projects. Because the work happens during standard business hours, I can reserve evenings for studying, exercising, or spending time with friends.