Meet Riki Joiner Rider
Student Spotlight
Meet Riki Joiner Rider, a management & administration major and presidential fellow from Thomaston, GA.
Rider was initially drawn to Gordon State College for its business program and proximity to her hometown. She was comforted knowing she would not be alone when beginning college because her mother was also enrolled on-campus. Soon after enrolling, Rider said she realized she had a much bigger support group than she had thought. She credited her advisor, professors, and other staff members in helping her succeed and being a part of the special Gordon difference.
Rider always aspired to be a writer. She currently loves writing science fiction and hopes to be published one day, however, she is also interested in business-related occupations or perhaps even marketing and writing for a video game company.
Even though Rider is a creative writer with a deep love for literature, her favorite course at Gordon so far has been applied statistics. Her professor, Dr. Burstein, taught her that data tells a story which piqued her interest in the subject. Now, she views statistics as a medium of storytelling.
In her free time, Rider loves reading speculative fiction, such as “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. She enjoys browsing the Gordon library for fun books to read over the weekend when she's not studying and also enjoys playing video games like “Skyrim” and “Bioshock,” as well as “Animal Crossing” and “Stardew Valley.” When she is not reading or playing video games, she loves playing with her dog, Rosie, spending time with her husband, and assisting with her sister’s new candle-making business, Georgia’s Hearth and Home.
“Gordon is a college for everyone, so no matter where you’re from or what you do, there is a place for you. The faculty and staff care deeply for their students, and because of this, we thrive,” said Rider. “This institution has exceeded my expectations since I’ve enrolled and I hope you consider joining us and becoming a Highlander.”