Employee Spotlight

Nicholas Walsh-Davis

As the man behind the “good-times” at Casa Loma College, Nicholas Walsh-Davis loves getting to know new applicants, learning about them, why they are choosing their field, and learning about their passions. And he continues that relationship throughout their time at Casa Loma – to watching them “cross the finish line.”

Tell Us About Yourself?
Hi! I am Nicholas and I am the Director of Student Affairs for the college. I have been with the college for 8 years now and love being a part of the CLC family. I am 33, married, no children but 16 nieces and nephews, huge Harry Potter fan (Team Slytherin al the way), um, my favorite color is brown, and my favorite food is food. No joke I love everything but if I had to pick just one, it would be Mexican. I mean who says no to tacos except sociopaths, amirite?

Tell Us About Your Educational Background.
My higher education career has been a long one, like the intro to Star Wars movies credits long, that has been touch-n-go at various points. Thankfully pulling the “life support” plug was never an option. It took a “minute” and by minute, I mean like 1400 trips around the sun, but I got my Associates in Sociology from LA Valley College and I am currently attending CSUN, Cal Sate Northridge. I will be graduating Spring 2021 with a BA in Sociology. I am very eager to start a master’s program soon afterwards focused in Public Health, institution is TBD at this time, so if anyone has a recommendation, I am all ears.

What Inspired You to Pursue A Career in Admissions and Student Affairs?
Honestly, I fell into it. I applied for the front desk position (in retrospect that would have been not a good thing), but during my interview I noticed the questions switched and were geared towards admissions, was hired and I absolutely fell in love with it. Getting into Student Affairs only solidified my position that I made the right choice and leap of faith to apply and am I thankful that my boss at the time saw potential in me and took a risk.

What Areas Within This Field would you like to see a change?
I would like to see the stigma of vocational/training colleges to be eliminated, I feel that the overall perspective has positively changed but not entirely.

What Have Been Your Most Important, Proudest And/or Favorite Experience in Your Career?
Honestly, every graduation we host are all three of those in one. Watching our graduates through blurry vision because I cannot not cry, cross the stage brings all the emotions, and gives me passion and energy to keep going.

 What Brought You to work at Casa Loma College?
I have always worked in customer service and before Casa Loma I was going to school and was a server part time at Neiman Marcus. I told my Auntie around that time that I was looking to find fulltime work that would be easier on my knees and through a little birdie I heard that Casa Loma was searching for a front desk person and I applied. Thought it was worth a shot.

What do you find most rewarding about working with new applicants?
Getting to know the applicant, learning about them, why they are choosing their field, learning about their passions, and watching them cross “the finish line” graduating, earning their licenses/certifications and landing their first job.

Who Has Influenced You the Most in Life?
I do not think anyone person has been most influence. There have been various people throughout my life that have influenced me in small and large ways that has affected my choices to personality to morals, etc.

Share an example of when you established and accomplished a goal that was personally challenging. What helped you succeed?
When I lived in Nicaragua and had to learn Spanish. Practice, practice, practice. I memorized words, verbs nouns anything and everything. I talked to everyone I could, and it took about 6 months, frustration, and dedication, to really see a difference and feel confident.

If You Could Have Dinner with One Person, Living or Dead, Who Would It Be and why?
Oh, another Sophie’s choice. I guess…. Oh umm…. Maybe…. Me? I mean company is great and fun, but have you ever just treated yourself to a nice dinner with an excellent glass of wine?

How Do You Like to Spend Your Free Time?
I love food. Like while I am eating breakfast, I am planning lunch and dinner two days from then. If I am not at work or doing schoolwork you can most likely find me in the kitchen or at a restaurant. I do like to hike, read, travel, garden, oh, I have awkward dance parties! Is that a hobby? If a sweet jam comes on I just start dancing at my house and my spouse just rolls their eyes and walks away, so my parties of one, they only last about the length of one song, but sometimes it is really crazy and I might have like five dance parties on a Saturday.

 What would people be surprised to know about you?
I am camera shy and do not like big crowd, big crowds are like five people or more.