Center for Success of Women Faculty

What is your current job title and responsibilities?
I’m the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Knowledge Management, providing leadership for Institutional Research and Enterprise Decision Support (data warehousing and business intelligence).

What is your history at UCF? (past job titles, responsibilities)
My first job for UCF was as a Graduate Assistant at the Daytona Campus.  Over the past 20 years, I’ve served as Coordinator for Admissions and Registration at Daytona, then transitioned to the main campus as Assistant Registrar, Associate Registrar, and then PeopleSoft student records functional lead.  Ten years ago, I made the jump to Institutional Research as the Assistant and then Associate Director.  In 2005, I was selected as the new Director of Institutional Research and was promoted to my current position in 2010.

What is your favorite UCF memory?
Walking across the commencement stage for my doctoral degree.

If you could change one thing at UCF, what would it be? ($ and time no object)
I think UCF has a beautiful campus that is a major selling point for prospective students and faculty.  However, we don’t have much building space left without starting to fill in the critical green space.  I’d start adding floors to existing buildings….going up higher, rather than spreading out more.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with your colleagues?
Take ownership for your work!  Become an expert in your field and build a reputation as a  problem solver known for pragmatic solutions.

What is your favorite restaurant or food?
Anything Mexican or Italian

What is your favorite book or movie or song?
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.  The book describes the battle of Gettysburg and has been made into a fabulous miniseries. After reading the book, I had a chance to visit the National Military Park at Gettysburg and the book brought the details to life and made the visit all that more impactful.

What is your dream vacation spot?
I love to travel, but right now, my dream spot is the south island of New Zealand.

What is your favorite sport to watch or participate?
UCF Football, but I like playing and watching most sports.

If UCF was going to name something in your honor, what would you like it to be?
An endowed scholarship to support students pursuing advanced degrees in the field of higher education administration.

If you could have lunch with anyone at UCF, who would you choose and why?
Dr. Dan Holsenbeck because he has a wealth of knowledge about UCF, but probably also knows where all the skeletons are buried in Tallahassee.

Who at UCF would you like to thank for your success?
Without naming any one person, I’d like to thank the mentors who have shown me how to lead, the colleagues who have encouraged and inspired me, as well as the first-rate team within my office that makes every day at UCF rewarding and fulfilling.

Name and describe a teacher from you past who truly inspired you.
I come from a long line of teachers, my grandmother, my mother, an aunt and an uncle, even my sister and cousins have joined the profession.  The childhood lessons from my grandmother, and the everyday lessons from my mother continue to guide and shape me.

What undergraduate class/program inspired you the most and why?
The upper-level history courses that were part of the core for my undergraduate degree in International Affairs.  I’ve continued to study the field (even auditing additional history classes here at UCF after finishing my doctorate!) and am fascinated by the context of major and minor decisions that still impact our lives today.