June 2017
About
Department/School/Division: Office of First and Second Year Advising
Campus: Lake Shore Campus
Years at Loyola: 3
What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola?
I have two! My incredible colleagues make coming to work every day a joy; they help me maintain a passion for our work even during our busiest times. And witnessing students’ “a-ha!” moments as they discern their major and career path is a true privilege!
What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee?
Having the opportunity to facilitate the training of new academic advisors in our office since January has been an exciting challenge! This year we are also intensively working to centralize policies, procedures, and support for advisors’ critical role in student success and persistence. I’m grateful for supportive colleagues and supervisors and proud of the improvements we are making in our department and across campus to help advisors best care for Loyola students.
What does Loyola's mission mean to you?
As a Jesuit institution, Loyola challenges students to see the world beyond themselves and their own experiences. Our mission means that staff and faculty have the responsibility of modeling empathy and inclusion to students, helping them to consider their impact on their peers and the world around them. It also means giving generously of oneself in time, energy, and care, and striving for excellence and growth in whatever work we do across campus. I’m proud to work at Loyola!
What motivates you to succeed each and every day?
Knowing those small interactions can make a lasting impact in the lives of my students. Listening to their hopes, fears, experiences, and accomplishments is an honor I try not to take lightly. Reminding students that, regardless of what is going on in their lives, someone at Loyola cares about their well-being and success, is my goal.
Tell us how you show your Rambler pride.
One of my favorite events on campus is Convocation and the first-year text discussion groups that follow. I volunteer to lead a discussion group each year, and I love the energy of students just arriving on campus before the semester begins. It also helps reinvigorate myself as I prepare to teach many sections of UNIV 101 each fall semester to incoming students, reminding me how excited they are to be here.
Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you.
In college and grad school, I worked in my university writing centers; I also worked as a copy editor in and after grad school for scholarship leadership journals, putting my English major to good use!
