administrative positions
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Program Director of Nature & Human Values (first year program in composition and ethics), HASS, Colorado School of Mines, 2017-2019. NHV has been recognized as a National Academy of Engineering Exemplar in Engineering Ethics Education.
Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Department of English, Texas A&M University, 2010-2011
Academic Coordinator, Duke University Talent Identification Program, Summer Studies Program, 2008-2009. Texas A&M University, Summer 2009 (two terms), University of Kansas, Summer 2008
Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Department of English, Texas A&M University, 2010-2011
Academic Coordinator, Duke University Talent Identification Program, Summer Studies Program, 2008-2009. Texas A&M University, Summer 2009 (two terms), University of Kansas, Summer 2008
higher education leadership training
For the 2018-2019 academic year, I received a grant from the Colorado School of Mines to attend four different Academic Management Institute Seminars. AMI offers leadership programs for women in higher education, and participants in seminars must be nominated by their institutions.
administrative philosophy
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In the same way that I want to empower my students in the classroom, I also want to empower the people I work with as an academic administrator. I take a service-oriented approach to administration, and I believe an administrator’s essential role is to foster an environment that helps others be successful in their goals and in their classrooms. An effective administrator understands the standardized rules and guidelines that shape a university system while also appreciating the unique and highly diverse needs of individual faculty, staff, and students. An administrator is one who both maintains the day-to-day oversight of a program, while also inspiring and implementing visions for future growth and possibilities.
The following principles guide my work in administrative roles:
Collaboration and teamwork
While some aspects of being in a leadership role require individual initiative and decision-making, being an administrator entails considering the input and values of the individuals that make up a program or system. I have a deep appreciation for collaboration and collegiality, and I consider teamwork critical to any administrative decision. It is only through working together that programs, departments, and the university can benefit from the wealth of diverse and innovative ideas that a team—and not a single individual—can offer.
Communication—listening in particular
Strong leadership is built on effective and consistent communication. For me, this means recognizing when I need to lead and guide, and when I need to sit back and listen. I have often found that deeply and genuinely listening to people is the most vital and exciting method for developing and implementing change. An effective administrator should be able to listen to multiple perspectives, assess how to best integrate that input, and then communicate how those ideas shaped a particular decision. Transparency and openness in communication are key to building trust and establishing an environment where feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Flexibility
It is vital that higher education remain adaptive and dynamic in meeting the needs of diverse students in a quickly changing world. An administrator should reflect this by being open-minded and flexible in problem-solving, providing support, and in guiding a program. In any kind of system, problems are inevitable, and an administrator should be ready to carefully and thoughtfully consider various courses of actions, and to brainstorm and judge multiple scenarios rather than becoming stuck on a single idea.
Care ethics and advocacy
An administrator should uphold a genuine care for those under her leadership and within a program or department. I strongly believe in practicing “care ethics” in that an administrator should recognize that people in a university system are not solely teachers or staff, but individuals with unique challenges, demands, and life situations that they face in addition to their work responsibilities. An effective administrator recognizes the importance of work-life balance and values it. An administrator is also an advocate for others, and looks for ways to promote a program that supports best practices in both pedagogy and “people development.” This may involve standing up on behalf of others and challenging situations that put faculty, staff, and students at a disadvantage.
Effective administration is about being the “go-to” person for others, someone who will be one step ahead in maintaining and growing a system or program while always factoring in the immediate and changing needs of individuals. This manifests in practical ways, such as being on time, prepared, and dependable, and in more value-driven ways, such as prioritizing others over oneself and taking a service-oriented approach to leadership. The ultimate gauge of effective administration reveals itself in the well-being and productivity of faculty, staff, and students.
The following principles guide my work in administrative roles:
Collaboration and teamwork
While some aspects of being in a leadership role require individual initiative and decision-making, being an administrator entails considering the input and values of the individuals that make up a program or system. I have a deep appreciation for collaboration and collegiality, and I consider teamwork critical to any administrative decision. It is only through working together that programs, departments, and the university can benefit from the wealth of diverse and innovative ideas that a team—and not a single individual—can offer.
Communication—listening in particular
Strong leadership is built on effective and consistent communication. For me, this means recognizing when I need to lead and guide, and when I need to sit back and listen. I have often found that deeply and genuinely listening to people is the most vital and exciting method for developing and implementing change. An effective administrator should be able to listen to multiple perspectives, assess how to best integrate that input, and then communicate how those ideas shaped a particular decision. Transparency and openness in communication are key to building trust and establishing an environment where feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Flexibility
It is vital that higher education remain adaptive and dynamic in meeting the needs of diverse students in a quickly changing world. An administrator should reflect this by being open-minded and flexible in problem-solving, providing support, and in guiding a program. In any kind of system, problems are inevitable, and an administrator should be ready to carefully and thoughtfully consider various courses of actions, and to brainstorm and judge multiple scenarios rather than becoming stuck on a single idea.
Care ethics and advocacy
An administrator should uphold a genuine care for those under her leadership and within a program or department. I strongly believe in practicing “care ethics” in that an administrator should recognize that people in a university system are not solely teachers or staff, but individuals with unique challenges, demands, and life situations that they face in addition to their work responsibilities. An effective administrator recognizes the importance of work-life balance and values it. An administrator is also an advocate for others, and looks for ways to promote a program that supports best practices in both pedagogy and “people development.” This may involve standing up on behalf of others and challenging situations that put faculty, staff, and students at a disadvantage.
Effective administration is about being the “go-to” person for others, someone who will be one step ahead in maintaining and growing a system or program while always factoring in the immediate and changing needs of individuals. This manifests in practical ways, such as being on time, prepared, and dependable, and in more value-driven ways, such as prioritizing others over oneself and taking a service-oriented approach to leadership. The ultimate gauge of effective administration reveals itself in the well-being and productivity of faculty, staff, and students.