Center for Success of Women Faculty

What is your current job title and responsibilities?
Instructor, Department of Biology, College of Sciences.  I teach mega classes and love it.

What is your history at UCF and before UCF?
I taught at Valencia and became a UCF Instructor in 2000.

What is your academic background?
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Special Subject Genetics

What is your favorite UCF memory?
Team teaching with Dr. Linda Walters

If you could change one thing at UCF, what would it be?
Much better internet in large classrooms

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with your colleagues?
Enjoy life it is short

If UCF was going to name something in your honor, what would you like it to be and why?
I would like to start a program for students whose parents have serious illnesses, such as cancer. These students are often forced out of school at UCF in multiple semesters without warning.  It is incredibly difficult for them to have to pay back financial aid when this happens.  It is also extremely difficult for them to reintegrate while driving parents to chemo.  Often they are the sole “support” of the parent.  I currently know of a student whose mom was diagnosed in fall 2016.  They told them at the doctors all is good in December 2016 only for them to find out during spring 2017, cancer is back and more chemo.

This type of disruption causes these students to need special types of coordinated help, financial and social. I did send student to UCF Cares, nothing could be done.  Currently they have been on the verge of losing home for 2 years due to medical bills etc.  Student is in school this semester, but may again need to dropout, this will incur more need to pay back additional financial aid.

If you could have lunch with anyone at UCF (who you do not normally eat lunch with), who would you choose and why?
The Dean of Undergrad Services, I have a lot of feed them

Who at UCF would you like to thank for your success?
Dr. David Kuhn

Name and describe a teacher or researcher from your past who truly inspired you and why.
Dr. David Kuhn, he was a “man for all seasons” and a wonderful scientist

What undergraduate or graduate class/program/experience inspired you the most and why?
Adv. Genetics, it was amazing fun

What is your favorite restaurant or food?
Cocina 214

What is your favorite movie, book or music?
Flying over Iceland on you tube

What is your favorite vacation destination?
Iceland