ABIGAIL JACOBSON
Special to The Leader
When stepping into Darin Schulz’s office, you will see a picture of the USS Ashland Navy Ship (LSD – 48) hung on the wall to the left, a Steelers helmet on top of a cabinet and a Chewbacca pencil holder.
You will see Schulz, the Faculty Student Association’s (FSA) executive director, has blue eyes and brown hair. He dresses professionally.
Most people know of Schulz primarily because of his role in the FSA, but here is the Schulz people don’t see every day.
Schulz is 51 years-old. He grew up in Randolph, N.Y., as an only child. He went on to graduate from high school in Randolph in 1989. Schulz graduated from Penn State University in 1993, majoring in operations management with a minor in naval sciences, on a Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship.
An ROTC scholarship will cover most of your college expenses; in return, you participate in military training while in college and serve after you graduate.
After graduating from Penn State, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy for seven years. He was stationed on the USS LSD 48 for the first three years.
He went to several different parts of the world: the Mediterranean, Spain, Naples, Italy and many others. Traveling to these areas made Schulz “appreciate how wonderful we have it here.”
“Something that really made me appreciate how we live here in America … the opportunities that we have here,” Schulz said. “… Even those that are less fortunate here [have it] so much better than other places.”
During his time in the Navy, he was involved in operations that helped out other countries with humanitarian projects. In Africa, he helped with infrastructure projects.
Schulz also worked in South America.
“In Argentina, we went and worked on painting this really rural school that they had,” Schulz said.
He said in 1994, several Cubans were trying to move to Florida. A task force was sent down from the ship he was stationed on to work with the Coast Guard. They picked people up to save them from dehydration, rough currents, shark-infested waters and the humid, hot weather.
“So we were … just trying to pick them up, along with the Coast Guard, and a few other ships so they wouldn’t … die out there,” Schulz said.
Schulz gave advice to those who are thinking of going into the military.
“I would highly encourage doing it early and going that route. … It gives you the opportunity to see things that you’ll never or would never see,” he said. “It is a great opportunity to grow.” Schulz left the Navy as a lieutenant, and he was fortunate to have the opportunity to move back home to Randolph afterward. He then worked for the Chautauqua County government as a financial analyst and was promoted to director of finance in 2006.
Schulz decided to come to SUNY Fredonia to work at the Faculty Student Association in 2012.
Sangai Keita, who was previously involved with the Student Association and is a senior public relations and political science dual major, said, “Darin, just like all the FSA members, seems to be very welcoming.”
Director of dining services Dean Messina also talked about his relationship with Schulz.
“Darin is professional in his tone and mannerisms,” Messina said. “Darin is a person that is motivating, fair, trusting and very family-oriented.”
Schulz is married and has three children. He also has two Irish doodles, whose names are Leia and Rey after his biggest interest, “Star Wars.” He also has four cats.
Schulz loves “Star Wars,” the Buffalo Bills and anything outdoors. He and his family snowmobile in the winter, and spend time outside during warm weather. They often spend time upkeeping the seven acres of land they own.
In many ways, Schulz has returned to where he started but he still has this advice for students. “Get out of a small town and see the world for a little bit [before settling down],” Schulz said.