A photo of the SWOT team celebrating after the final orientation for Fall 2026, from SWOT Instagram account
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Sept. 2, 2026) – It’s the first few weeks of yet another new school year; the weather is starting to cool, students are settling into their class schedules and a fresh crop of smiling high school graduates are taking their first steps into adult life here on AUM’s campus.
The transition from high school to college can certainly be difficult, as more experienced students may know all too well. Luckily, these bright young faces don’t have to navigate their rapidly changing worlds all alone.
The Orientation and Transitions program at AUM is responsible for taking new students, from both the U.S. and abroad, and ensuring that they have the tools and knowledge available to them to start their college journey off on the right foot. Most often, this is done at new student orientations, where new warhawks can register for their first classes and learn about student services, among other things.
Of course, as with many successful organizations, the Orientations and Transitions program would be little without its boots-on-the-ground link between students and the university, the Successful Warhawks Orientation and Transitions Team (SWOT Team).
SWOT is the main university organization for helping incoming and transfer students find their footing here on campus such as through student engagement and promoting campus events and activities.
“Our job is to be the friendly student face of AUM.” – Tyreanna Causey
In order to help the newest members of our campus community familiarize themselves with this team, SWOT Force Leader Tyreanna Causey talked about how she works to help our freshmen succeed.
“Everyone doing the calls to recruit people, sending text messages, sending packages saying that AUM is the place for you to go – that is all us,” she added.
One of the mainstays of the SWOT team is their assistance in hosting and operating many of the new student orientation events on campus. Many students look back upon their orientation with fond memories. Personally, I will never forget walking through the halls of the Athletics Complex three years ago for Freshmen Convocation, with seemingly all the professors in the school clapping, cheering and welcoming us to the next stage of our lives.
Orientations are, of course, an important part of the new student experience, but the work of the SWOT team does not stop there.
“One thing we like to do is set up a table where we give out free snacks to students passing by and tell them about the upcoming events that are happening,” Causey said. She explained that students often recognize SWOT team members from their orientations at these tables and feel more comfortable coming up to learn more about all the events going on around campus that they could attend.
With all the good work that the SWOT team does on campus, this naturally leads some to ask the question: what is it like to work for this group and what motivates someone to want to join?
When asked what motivated her to join SWOT, Causey said, “I remember my first orientation. I was very shy and very scared, and during the end of things when they were doing games and events, I was off to the side, sitting with my mom. The SWOT members came up to me and encouraged me to play the games with them, and that really opened me up and made me feel comfortable and feel seen.”
She explained how that experience impacted her and how it motivated her to want to be the person that could help someone else in that same way, and at the end of her freshman year, she made the choice to apply for a position with the team.
Of course, Causey isn’t just satisfying the desire to help others by being a member of the team. According to a study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, undergraduate orientation and leadership experience can provide students with improved interpersonal communication skills, psychological benefits, and more.
When asked about what it’s actually like to work for SWOT, Causey said that the work is “flexible for the most part.” For as much of the job is running, promoting and participating in campus events, there is an equal part of work behind the scenes making phone calls and reaching out to incoming students.
Though the work isn’t always glamorous, Causey spoke about how the management and co-workers manage to create a fun and friendly atmosphere even during the more mundane parts of the job.
In particular, Causey pointed out the work of Da’Monta Wiggins, AUM’s director of student life, as being a particularly strong contributor to the friendly work environment, saying, “He is hilarious, even when we’re all struggling and trying to figure out what’s going on. He’s always doing silly things that make us laugh, and at the end of the day he’s always there, checking in on us mentally and even though he is our boss, he’s always there trying to help out wherever he can.”
Overall, the interview with Causey shined a light on the important work that the SWOT team performs for our newer students. For any students wishing to be a part of this team, fall applications open in October, and for more information, students are always encouraged to speak with AUM’s Orientation and Transitions Coordinator Gesina Wuenstel.
