#1—What brought you to Emma Willard School?

When I was in undergrad at Keene State College, I had a work study position that made me realize I wanted to work in higher education. I was part of the res life office at the time and I realized I loved helping people, talking to people, coming up with solutions to problems, and I love data. That's how I started wanting to work in education in general. 

When I came to Emma I was looking for the next step for my career; I was an associate registrar at RPI, and the next step would be a registrar. A colleague sent me the position at Emma Willard and I thought it was a perfect fit! As soon as I was interviewing, I knew that it was the place for me.

 

 

#2—What is a typical day-in-the-life at Emma like for you?

Usually I drop off Cameron, my son, with my parents and then I head into the academic office, turn on my computer, and I'm already into registration mode!

Everything is very cyclical in my world. Sometimes it's scheduling and registration heavy. At other times it's all grading and comments, so it all kind of depends on where we are in the school year. At some points of the year there might be a lull when I can work on other projects I’ve put off during the busy times, but also a lot of emails. A lot of emails!

 

 

#3—What is one thing about working at Emma that would surprise people?

I think that there's this idea that the tuition at Emma attracts a certain kind of student. After being here for four years I notice that perception from a lot of people I talk to that don't know what it’s like here, the idea that it’s all very entitled kids. 

But we have students from all over the place, from all different demographics and socioeconomic statuses and backgrounds. And that's what kind of makes Emma a great place. Students get that sense of the real world, where the transition to college is going to be a little easier because everybody you meet is so different here. That was the biggest eye-opening thing for me coming to Emma.

 

 

#4—What were you like in high school?

I was a jock! I played three sports. My fall sport was soccer, basketball in the winter, and then I was a big softball player. My focus was really on sports (and obviously my grades.) But also, and I think a lot of people wouldn't know this about me, I was an artist as well. I loved painting and working with different mediums, and I loved all of my art classes.

So I was kind of all over the place. I was a jock after school, during the day I was kind of a nerd, but I was also the type of person who wove into different social groups. I was friends with the theater kids, the jocks, with the kind of kids who were wallflowers. It was a good mixture. But I also went to a very small rural high school, so you kind of had to be friends with everyone!

I’m still friends with most of those people, my good core girlfriend group, we all keep in touch (and with some of the guys too)!