Growing Into Leadership

Sady Swiers ’27 | Bejou, Minnesota
Major: Business with a concentration in Marketing
Minors: Communication Studies, Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Please tell us about yourself.

I am in my third year at Concordia and will graduate in December 2026. I am the youngest of six and have 10 nieces and nephews! I’m from Bejou, Minnesota, which is a super small town on the very edge of the White Earth Reservation. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 84. Outside of school, I work at a boutique called MINT + BASIL in downtown Fargo (come visit!) and love to spend time with my friends and family.

Why did you choose Concordia?

Coming from a small high school (my graduating class was 23), I knew I needed small class sizes. I didn’t want to feel like just another fish in the sea, and Concordia made me feel important and valued right off the bat. My older sister also went to Concordia, so I knew the campus and felt at home.

What do you enjoy about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

I love downtown Fargo! It’s such an underrated area. Broadway Square has something going on for every season and it’s always a great time. I especially love the Red River Market and Christkindlmarkt. If it sometimes feels like there’s nothing to do, I recommend following CampusFM on Instagram. They post what’s happening in the F-M area at the beginning of every week!

In what ways have you been involved on campus?

I am vice president of the Indigenous Student Association, co-president of the Marketing Club, an intern in the Communications and Marketing Office, and was an Associate Resident Assistant during my sophomore year.

What is the Indigenous Student Association, how did you become involved, and what activities does the group have?

The Indigenous Student Association (ISA) is a student-led organization that focuses on the recognition and representation of Indigenous people. I was asked to become a founding member in my freshman year by my history professor. I grew up on the White Earth Reservation, so getting this club started and seeing how it could make a difference at Concordia was super important to me. We host traditional beading nights, watch and listen to Indigenous stories, and help with the annual Woodlands and High Plains Powwow, which is hosted by a Metro College Alliance member each year. A big project we got done this year was getting tribal flags hung up in the Knutson Campus Center atrium that represent the student and staff tribes we have on campus.

What was your favorite part about working for Residence Life?

I loved making so many new friends. I had residents and fellow RAs who became my best friends, and I’m so thankful for that! Also, we got to tour the tunnels of East Complex, which was a dream of mine.

What led you to apply for the Marketing Club’s executive team and how has your involvement prepared you for success in your field?

My professor, Dr. Jiani Jiang, had dropped the hint in class that the Marketing Club was looking for new members to join the leadership team. The thought was in my head for a while, but it wasn’t until the annual personal branding event the Marketing Club hosted that I decided I was for sure going to apply. Our events, including internship nights, resume workshops, guest speakers, and a marketing workshop hosted by Amplify, have been super beneficial. Networking was always something that scared me off, and the Marketing Club made it so much less intimidating.

What are your responsibilities and key takeaways as an intern in the Communications and Marketing Office?

I’m a jack-of-all-trades in the MarCom office! I make most of the TikToks for Concordia’s account and get to help with content for all the socials, I write blog and news stories for the website, I get the mail and run errands, and much more. MarCom has made me more confident in my abilities and has given me real-life experience.

What’s your favorite part about Mini Mic Monday for the Cobber TikTok account?

I love seeing all the new and familiar faces on campus. I live off campus this year and don’t have a meal plan, so Mini Mic is when I get to see everyone outside of classes. One of my favorite experiences was when a new student recognized me from the first Mini Mic that I had done at an Admission event and told me that seeing herself in the video was one of the factors that influenced her decision to come to Concordia.

How did you decide on your area of study?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to go into, but I knew what I didn’t want to do, so that helped narrow the search down quite a bit. In high school, I got to job shadow a social media marketing specialist, and after that I knew I wanted to go into marketing.

Do you have a favorite marketing course? Why is it your favorite?

My favorite course so far has been Retail Management with Dr. Jiang. We got to design and order our choice of goods to sell in the Cobber Collective. My group made two different T-shirt designs and sold them for $15 each. We sold out of our original order during the week that we were set up in the Cobber Collective, so we did pre-orders after our week had ended.

 Everyone in OSB cares so deeply about your success.

What are the benefits of taking classes in the Offutt School of Business?

Everyone in OSB cares so deeply about your success. My advisor, Dr. Evan Marsoek, makes sure I have a plan, a backup plan, and a backup plan for the backup plan for registration. My professors have always gotten to know me and still say “hi” in the hallways. It also has some of the most underrated study areas. The balcony in the spring and fall is gorgeous, and the CEL is my new favorite space. It has snacks, a TV so you can project your work or play music, a private study space, and board games.

In what ways has Concordia helped you grow?

In every way! I am more confident, independent, outspoken, and so much more. Freshman year me would laugh if someone told her I even tried to be an officer for any club. I was so sure I was going to fly under the radar at college and was here just to get my degree. I am so glad I didn’t!

What do you value most about being a Cobber?

I’m a big fan of traditions, and Concordia has so many. I love the feeling of community you get when you join in on a Cobber tradition. You could talk to any Concordia graduate and ask about the Cobber beanies or Cobber rings or not walking under the bell tower and, chances are, they’ll have a story for you. Participating in the traditions doesn’t make you a Cobber, but they do help you feel like a Cobber.

What advice do you have for high school students who are considering Concordia?

Look into all the resources Concordia offers and ask lots of questions about them. Also, if you take a campus tour, ask them to take you to Bishop Whipple, Grose, and Academy because I still get lost in there.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Roll Cobbs!

^{Published April 2026}