Staff Spotlight: Mike Tuttle
Pictured is Mike Tuttle, High Point University’s advancement officer. Photo submitted.
By Ann Shelley// Opinion Editor
The staff at High Point University is a huge part of what makes this school what it is. When students are looking for advice and help, HPU’s staff is there for guidance, and often students are not even fully aware of all of the responsibilities of staff members.
One of these dedicated staff members is Mike Tuttle, advancement officer at HPU.
Tuttle is originally from Raeford, North Carolina and received a degree in history from Elon University. He currently works in the Institutional Advancement Office and handles alumni engagement, parent and family engagement and fundraising for the university.
“It’s been a wonderful journey,” Tuttle said. “I have worked in several departments throughout my career.”
Having worked at HPU for 30 years, Tuttle has made many memories. He said his favorite memory so far, though, is meeting his wife, Gail Tuttle, senior vice president of student life.
Although Tuttle mentioned enjoying many fun weekends and events that HPU has held throughout the years, his favorites are the ones that bring all aspects of the HPU student life together.
“My favorite event HPU puts on is move-in weekend,” said Tuttle.
Like most HPU staff, Tuttle explained that his favorite aspects of HPU are the people he works with and the caring environment that HPU creates.
“It’s the people,” Tuttle said. “The caring attitude that everyone who works here exhibits – it’s hard to explain until you have lived it.”
Tuttle’s job has given him the opportunity to work with many students and alumni over the course of his career at HPU, so he gets to see both ends of the spectrum.
Tuttle describes there being a great amount of growth and maturing that takes place between the ages of 18 and 22, which is one of the reasons his favorite part of his job is seeing the students mature and become adults.
As the freshmen start to get involved on campus and start to learn the ins and outs of HPU, Tuttle offers his advice to first-year students.
“You should get involved,” Tuttle said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and know that all faculty and staff are here to help. We just need to know how we can make your experience one of the best.”