Tell me about yourself! What do you like to do in your free time?
I really enjoy being outdoors – fishing, camping, and hiking are all some of my favorite pastimes. Staying active is also important to me; I love to run and have participated in a half marathon and a triathlon. In addition to running, yoga is one of my favorite ways to exercise and I would love to get certified to teach yoga classes during my spare time! Most of my time is spent with my family or travelling. Recently, we went to New York City to explore museums and attend Broadway shows, but we also enjoy exploring PA and have taken trips to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. My goal is to take my family to California soon for a big vacation!
How did you come to work at Penn State? When?
I graduated from Penn State University Park with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Sciences & Technology and moved to Chicago for my first job. I worked as a business analyst at a human resource outsourcing company for 13 years and then worked for ALDI, also as a business analyst in their marketing department for over a year. I then had the opportunity in March 2021 to join PSU where I joined the OPAIR team as a business analyst. Recently, I moved into a project management role.
What motivates you the most in your line of work?
I love taking a new project or idea from the beginning phase where often there is little information or vision and see it through to completion. The process of project development is inspiring, as the team gets to see the direct impact of all their efforts and hard work. I have also learned to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, which allows me to move projects forward and stretch my boundaries to reach new levels of success.
What do you enjoy most about working for Penn State?
OPAIR is an amazing team full of thoughtful and collaborative team members. I feel very fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful team and to get to work with these teammates on a daily basis! I have also been fortunate to work on projects that span the entire university community and I have universally found the same sense of thoughtfulness and willingness to contribute. I really enjoy working on projects that impact so many; one big reason I wanted to work for Penn State is that I wanted to work somewhere where my role would ultimately benefit others and not just increase cashflow for a corporation. Being able to aid the students, faculty, and staff of the PSU community has been very fulfilling these past two years.
Are there any upcoming projects you’re especially excited about?
Yes! The 2024 Self-Study will soon enter its next phase, which is exciting given the extensive time spent on creating it. OPAIR is also working towards data standardization, which is a big project but will ultimately make our work more efficient. The development of the OPAIR RADAR SharePoint site is also a big project that will create lots of interesting changes. The site host OPAIR institutional reports and dashboards and provides resources for analysts to create their own queries, reports, and dashboards. In all, I’ve greatly enjoyed all the projects I’ve had the opportunity to participate in.
What are some of your goals for the future?
I plan to continue to work on new projects and hope to be able to work with new members of OPAIR and the university community. I’m also in the process of researching a new work certification I can achieve that will be the most beneficial to my work here at OPAIR. Outside of work, I’d love to accomplish another half marathon and am looking forward to traveling with my family this summer!