IUPUI has been my home for over 25 years, not including the time spent as a student long before many of our current buildings were here on campus. It has been incredible to witness the growth IUPUI has undergone and the opportunities it has provided for students and the community of Indianapolis.
I began my career in 1997 in the Psychology department working at the front desk where I met many people with whom I remain friends. A few years later an opportunity came up in the Physics department, and then in 2005, another opportunity arose in the Dept. of Chemistry & Chemical Biology where I’ve remained and work as the Graduate Program Administrator for both the chemistry and the Forensic & Investigative Sciences programs.
The faculty and staff I work with are the best, I’m so lucky to have gotten to know such an interesting and diverse group of people. My favorite part of my job is helping students. They contact me when they begin their search for a grad program. I love getting to know the students from inquiry, to admission, to graduation. It’s very rewarding to see the personal and professional development they reach at each milestone. I am so proud of every student and am always excited to see where they go off to after graduation. Because of the people I’ve met at IUPUI, I have friends all over the world.
As for me, I am winding down my career and plan to retire in about a year. I live right in downtown Noblesville, IN, near my 3 grandchildren ages, 15, almost 16, and 20. Living where I do provides options for fun as I am steps away from the restaurants, brewery, and shops on the Noblesville square, and in sight of the White River where I like to take walks that lead to the park.
I can never take a walk without stopping to look at trees or bugs or whatever catches my attention. Even walking into the Science building I am likely to stop to feed nuts to the squirrel who has a nest outside the LD building. I am most at home in nature and love taking photos, some of which have been on display at the Eagle Creek Nature Center for whom I volunteered several years ago.
Something people may not know is that I have worked as a crew member for an amateur sport car racing team, Narwhal Autosport. My part has involved spotter/radios, in-car video, safety equipment prep, parts runner, tool, tire and equipment management, general driver support.
I enjoy writing and have had several essays published locally. Developing my writing and story-telling skills, along with photography, painting, and generally getting more engaged with the arts community is what I intend to do once I’m no longer at IUPUI. It has been a wonderful time here and I’m excited to see the new direction the school is taking.