April 3, 2015
What is your least favorite thing about humanity?
It’s going to sound cliché. Bad people, war, famine, disease.
What is your favorite thing about humanity?
Resilience. People’s ability to pick up and move on regardless of their circumstance.
How did you end up at Hamilton?
I am a Hamilton graduate, class of ’96, and while I was here I like to tell people I majored in extracurricular activities. I interned in the student activities office and the director at the time became, and still is, a very close friend of mine, and so one day I just said “how do you get paid to do what you do?” It just opened up this whole new world of graduate programs for higher education administration. So ultimately I applied and got my master’s degree and went to work at a small college in Georgia. Then she, the director, was looking for an assistant director, and originally I’m from Syracuse so I thought well I go and interview. Fifteen years later… I’m still here. Hamilton is home to me.
How did you end up here originally in 1992?
I’m the oldest of three children, and my parents were born and raised in Syracuse, my whole family is in Syracuse, so my father did not want me to venture very far from home. So when I started my college search I was really looking in New York State, and I knew that I wanted a small liberal arts school. So, as I started looking, Hamilton was obviously at the top of the list and it ended up being the only school I applied to. I knew, as soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew it felt like home.
If you weren’t your ridiculously long title, what would you do?
You know, I don’t know. I really don’t know. Probably some sort of event planning or administrative work. I’m really good at bossing people around. (Giggles) I honestly don’t know the answer to that question because I love what I do. Things I know that I would never do: elementary school. I do not have that kind of patience or stamina.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A teacher (laughs). I come from a family of teachers and lawyers, so the other thing I’ve considered is the law. I’ve toyed with the idea… eight years ago I toyed with the idea of going to law school, but to stay in higher education. I would’ve considered being council to a college or university.
Do you believe in aliens?
I do. I mean, I believe that there is other life out there. I don’t necessarily think there are little green men that want to come and kidnap us.
Do you have a favorite Disney character?
Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Why? I love the music in that particular movie and I’ve just always liked her.
If you could have any celebrity as your best friend, who would it be?
That’s tough, there are so many. Drew Barrymore, I think she’s really fun. No sure we have a lot in common, but I think she’d be really fun. But I’m going to change the question, if I could be friends with a fictitious character, I’d want to be friends with CJ Cregg from The West Wing.
How much did you drink in college?
I drank a moderate amount in college, and this is going to sound really sissy pants, but I was–in my group of friends–the sober one. We did not have the same kind of late night shuttle service that exists today, so I was the designated drive, because I could not trust my friends not to drink. I mean I did drink. You were the president of your sorority after all. So certainly that was the focus of a lot of my social life, but I was often the sober person.
What was your favorite thing about going to Hamilton?
I think the community. It’s a small campus, so you can interact with lots of different groups of people and have different experiences and not be pigeonholed into one group. I was in a sorority, I was in an a-capella group. It seemed like my entire class studied abroad, I stayed here and made, I feel, an entirely new group of friends. I stayed here for a summer; I got to know another new group of people. I feel like I took full advantage of what Hamilton has to offer. I loved, I love the community.
If you could change anything about Hamilton what would you change?
Right now? Today? I would make people be nicer to one another in lots of different ways. From students all the way up to faculty, I think we sometimes don’t talk to each other with enough respect and kindness.
I’ll tell you a funny story. When we were developing the points system in 2004 or 2005, we were coming up with the different point spreads, for lack of a better word, for different infractions. We wanted to leave in, we joked about leaving in the ‘jackass point.’ It was a joke, we were never going to do it, but we should have. It would’ve come in very handy. We joke about it still.
Describe yourself in three words?
Loyal, hardworking, I’m going to say, caring, concerned. I hope that my friends and family know that I’m there for them when and if they need me. And students too.
If you had to pick a Hamilton faculty member to sing karaoke with, who would it be?
I would sing karaoke with Nancy Thompson because she has a wonderful voice and I think she would love to sing karaoke. She loves to do fun things, and fun things plus singing equal great times.
What superhero would you be, and if you could dress up as them, would you?
No, and no. I don’t think I have a favorite super hero. If you were handed a Batman costume, would you wear it for a day of work? No. Wonder Woman, maybe. I liked the Wonder Twins. I’m just not a super hero person, that’s not to say I wouldn’t wear a fun costume to work.
If you could say anything to any world leader past or present, who would you talk to and what would you say?
I spend way too much time watching cable news, so I’m much more interested in US politics. So I would say Hilary Clinton. I was lucky enough to meet her when she was here. I’d want to know how she did it. She’s an impressive woman, so I’d wanna learn from her.
What word from the English language would you remove?
Douchebag. I just think it’s foul.
Where would you have your office if you could put it anywhere on campus?
It’s exactly where I want it to be… because I helped design it… so it’s perfect.
If you could go back in time to any era, when and where would you go?
For silly reasons, I would like to visit the 1950s. I really love the movie Grease. I just think it was a simpler time. I love the music. Great cars, sock hops.
If you could join any student organization now, which would it be?
Ooo, right now? I think there’s lots of groups. The thing is I’m kind of a part of a lot of student organizations. I think I’d probably get involved in Student Assembly, because I don’t think I appreciated it when I was as student. I think I would have joined the yearbook, because that’s one thing I did in high school and didn’t in college.
Where would you go on your dream vacation?
Some place warm with a beach. I mean I really just want to sit on a beach with a book and relax, and not check my email or my phone. And not have someone saying “mama, mama, mama!” I just want a vacation.
If they were to make a biopic about your life, who would play you?
Jennifer Aniston. Why? Because I’ve been told that she would play me in the movie of my life. Who would you want to play you? Honestly, I don’t mind Jennifer Aniston. She’s funny, she’s beautiful, she’s smart. Not a bad choice.
If you could have three things on a desert island?
Material things or people? It’s open-ended. Well obviously I’d like my daughter and my dog… and then either, the complete West Wing or a Fleetwood Mac anthology.
If you could go back in time and talk to your college self, what would you tell you?
To not spend so much time worrying what other people think. Not that I think that it held me back in anyway, but you spend a lot of emotional energy worrying about that. I think that women do in college particularly.
Favorite curse word?
Is jackass a curse word? Shit is probably the one I use the most. When I start dropping the f-bomb, you should know to take a few steps back because you know that I’m in a bad place.
Sound that you hate?
There are many sounds that I hate. The sound of my daughter crying
Sound that you love?
The sound of my daughter laughing.
Assuming heaven exists, what would you want God or St. Peter to say to you?
Welcome.
What would he actually say?
We’ve got a lot of work to do, get to work.
Have you ever killed a man just to watch him die?
No. But I do like to kill students’ dreams, on occasion, just for fun… just kidding.