Our School is grateful for talented and dedicated staff, who contribute greatly to our teaching and research excellence. This "Get to Know" series highlights our staff, sharing their friendly faces and stories of professional success.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but my family moved to Champaign when I was one year old.
What year did you begin working for the iSchool?
I started at the iSchool in November 2016.
Where did you work prior to the iSchool, and what did you do?
Before coming to the iSchool, I worked for four years at the School of Architecture. My responsibilities included oversight of facilities scheduling in both buildings for meetings and events, which I coordinated as the events manager. I coordinated the school's lecture series, which entailed arranging travel, hotel accommodations, and honorariums for the lecturers. I also served as the building manager for facilities work orders and oversaw our gallery assistants.
What do you do at the School?
As the office manager for the School, I help coordinate and/or manage all iSchool-hosted special events, including but not limited to catering, room reservations, hotel accommodations for guests, and other logistics as needed. I also coordinate and manage alumni receptions with guidance from the director of alumni affairs. I serve as the primary administrative support to the assistant dean for student affairs with responsibility for travel arrangements and reimbursements, calendar management, and meeting planning. I contribute to various events, including Prospective Student Open House, Admitted Student Visit Day, On-Campus New Student Orientation, New Student Orientation Week, Welcome Weekend, LIS Career Fair, and Summer Getaway. I also provide travel and clerical support for recruitment and admissions staff.
What do you like best about your job?
My favorite part of my job is all the planning I do for the School's major events as well as conferences, such as the ALA Annual Conference that the iSchool attends. I get to meet new students and talk with vendors from all over the country.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spare time?? I love to travel to new places (or old and discover new things), go to movies and concerts, play with our dog Max, and go to the gym and do Zumba.