What are some of your passions and hobbies beyond OPAIR?
I have several. I’m active in animal rescue organizations, and I love to garden and cook. I think these are required of Southern women. Clemson’s area is a lot like State College, with hills and outdoor activities, so I also hike and paddleboard. So yes, a little bit of everything.
Are there any current projects you are working on that you are truly excited about?
Well… We have a global rankings group that I love because we all work well together. Our members span several departments, so we learn from each other, and everyone gets the data they can to help our rankings.
I also love working on our post-grad data. It’s been a passion of mine since I arrived, and I realized we needed to do better. I get to work internally and externally with groups dedicated to improving data, and I want to tell the full story of how amazing our graduates are.
Can you tell us about an accomplishment you’re proud of?
I am so proud to have started the local Sustainability Commission, a group of citizens and City representatives dedicated to conservation efforts. Early issues include passing a tree protection ordinance and not paving a new park parking lot to keep it from being a heat sink.
Do you have any personal or professional goals for this coming year?
Professionally, I’m starting the WC certificate program in project management. Personally, I want to do more hiking, and I have a trip planned to Glacier National Park in September. My mom will be 78, and this is the one trip she really wants to do. So, I will spend 10 days at Glacier on a multi-sport adventure, including rafting, hiking, and cycling. Yes, she can opt out of some activities.
Can you describe a typical day for a Senior Director for Policy Analysis? What are your key responsibilities?
Part of my job (as I see it) is being able to pivot to anything that comes up. It may be a ranking release or a request from government relations, but it needs attention immediately. I also work externally with groups on issues like federal regulations and earnings analyses. It is fascinating to learn what others are doing and how they see emerging issues, such as the enrollment cliff.
I work on various projects, and I love finding ways to help people solve problems or get better information. I get to talk with people about rankings and what they mean, then help them get better information. I just met with Eberly and will hopefully work with them to improve their subject rankings. In external groups like PSEO, I’m happy to sing Penn State’s praises and build relationships.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the University?
I’ve worked for several universities, but I am amazed at Penn State every day. I love the people. It’s that simple. The people I work with are incredible, and it just gets better as I meet more groups and feel more like I’m helping others.