Q: Out of everything you're working on at SoK, what are you most excited about and why?

A: I would have said, "campaign launch" a few months ago, because building out our goals and priorities was pretty all-encompassing for a couple of years. We launched the campaign in October and it went great, so now I am more focused on finding donors to match with our needs. 

The one-to-one development work has always been exciting to me - finding that right match between a donor's passions and our priorities feels really great, so I am super excited to be on the road more, having those conversations on behalf of our school. 
 

Q: How do you balance your time between the demands of your work and personal life?

A: Development is a job that requires a lot of flexibility. When we are on the road, we may have meetings that start at breakfast and end with a late dinner or event. We often have multiple meetings in different areas of a city, requiring careful logistics planning and travel through traffic and public transit. We may have weeks on campus that are seven days long or require attendance at evening events where we have to be "on" for hours at a time. 

It is equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. I personally have to build in down time to recharge. If I'm on the road, I make sure to build in time for that. It might be as simple as just taking a long walk. I also try to make a few minutes for things I love every day. A few minutes to read, a few minutes to write, a few minutes of movement - if that's all I can get, fine, but at least I took that little bit of time for myself. 
 

Q: What's your favorite thing about the School of Kinesiology and why?

A: No day is the same as the one before. I could be working with MSBC students one day and learning about a faculty member's research the next. And the caliber of people here never ceases to inspire me. Our faculty are researching issues that will better our lives in both the short and long term. Our students are engaged and excited about their learning and their futures. Our staff are hard working, compassionate, and supportive. We have volunteers, who are among the brightest in their industries, who show up for us in all settings. What's not to love?

Q: Which states and/or countries have you lived in? Which was your favorite, and why?

A: I was born and raised in Ohio and still live in Ohio. I lived in Galion as a kid, went to Athens for college, then moved to Columbus as an adult. Then I moved back to Athens with my husband and kids, where we lived for eight years, before moving to the Toledo area in 2020. Athens is a favorite, only for the topography. We lived on 11 acres in the middle of a state park, and there is nothing better than being surrounded by nature. 

Q: Who are the special people in your life?

A: My husband of nearly 25 years, Jesse, and my kids. Alia, my daughter, is 22 and a total free spirit, artist type. My son, London, is 18 and the more driven and pragmatic of the two. They're both good people - compassionate, loyal and funny. I also have two cats and two dogs, and they are all very clingy (the cats and the dogs, not the people).

Q: If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would it be and why?

A: Maybe Japan or Thailand? I'm interested in seeing some of the more ornate Buddhist temples throughout the world. 

Q: What's one fun or surprising thing about you?

A: I don't think I can pick just one. I have a lot of tattoos. I ghostwrite romance novels in my spare time. I saw The Matrix more than 20 times in the theater. I'm a total Michigan rockhound. I've seen Twenty One Pilots live 11 times now. I'm distantly related to Anne Boleyn. 

Q: What's one thing you'd like to brag about (personally or professionally)?

A: I have written more than two dozen romance novels for clients in six countries.