November 2014
About
Department/School/Division: First and Second Year Advising
Campus: Lake Shore
Years at Loyola: 3 Years
What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola?
I appreciate that my membership to the Loyola community allows me to be part of the international Jesuit community. Considering that my philosophy is that learning can happen both in and out of the classroom, I am thankful that I am part of a network of individuals who constantly prioritize discernment and reflection, cultivating the whole person, cura personalis, social justice, and dedication to the greater goods. These values allow me to not only live intentionally and in community but also recognize that they are at the core of the person I am and want to become. Additionally, it's a great perk that I don't have to go too far within my community to continue to grow and learn.
What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee?
I have had a few undergraduate seniors reach out to me to thank me for "all that I taught them" during their first year of college because they didn't fully understand the importance of my role in their Loyola experience until future semesters or years. These messages and conversations are important to me because they remind me why I decided to pursue a career in higher education — to support students' holistic development and serve as a gentle reminder that the work that I do, especially the things that may seem little or trivial, really does matter because I never know how my presence may impact others.
What does Loyola's mission mean to you?
I appreciate that our mission isn't a collection of random words compiled that's limited to a website or admissions brochure. It is a way of living that requires a call to action and the commitment to life-long learning due to our responsibility to work to "expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith." Therefore, our mission reminds me that my purpose is bigger than me and that I must always strive to be a person for and with others. It's not an easy task, but thankfully I am surrounded by incredible colleagues and students who inspire me to continue to respond and work towards a better world for all.
What motivates you to succeed each and every day?
Thankfully I encountered Amy Dubois Barnett's message to "push yourself toward your best life every single day in every single area—health, career, family, friends and relationship," when I was in graduate school. Her words resonated with me and has impacted how respond to the world around me in an authentic and holistic manner.
Tell us how you show your Rambler pride.
Every summer at freshmen orientation, I always depart my advising groups with the saying, "ramble on, Rambler," hoping that the first year students will think it's a Loyola tradition. My long-term goal is that this phrase will eventually catch on and will be part of everyday conversation on and off campus.
Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you.
Contrary to popular belief, there was a time when I was very shy and preferred to not engage with people in large group environments. In fact, my kindergarten teacher was so concerned that she considered holding me back a grade because she feared I wasn't developmentally prepared to interact with others. I think she was be pleased to hear that I now talk to over 180 first-year students on a weekly basis through the UNIV 101 sections I teach every fall.
