I’m originally from Massachusetts and have lived over the years in Georgia, Connecticut and now Indiana. I have 4 grown children and one little one who came into our lives when we were foster parenting, but now she will be our forever-daughter (and hopefully keep me young at heart!). My husband and I met in high school and have been together for nearly 40 years (and married “best friends” for 35). I love to read, run, cook, ride my bike and travel, and I’m so grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I love the mission of IUPUI and have been so fortunate to spend most of my career here.

Live theatre

Enjoys hiking with her son

Born in Mississippi

I am the proud mom of a high school senior. As a person originally from the East Coast, I miss and love being near bodies of water and fresh seafood. I love to travel, cook, and read, all for pleasure. I love to spend spare time with family and friends. I also enjoy quiet time and try to practice meditation when I can. I like being out in nature, taking photos of flowers and recording bird songs.

A long time ago I was going to be a history professor: I’ve taken Latin, German, French, and Greek. Then I discovered a love for data management in the context of library science—who would have guessed? One of my students did a report on women diagnosed with autism as adults: there’s a lot I find familiar in that. COVID added knitting and jigsaw puzzles to my previous hobbies of crocheting, baking, and mildly competent piano playing; now I’m potting. I read faster than anybody I know (my super-power) but all of my hobbies are wordless. I love my church, my neighborhood, and the IUPUI mission. Starting July 2022, I’m on phased retirement!

My discipline of study is literacy and thus I love language and focus on how it is used, what it conveys, and what it creates more so than simply describes. The poet Elizabeth Alexander describes individual words with power as “language that shimmers.” I really enjoy listening to the language people use. Sometimes I focus on a particular word someone articulates and ask myself, why did they use that word? How does it point to who they are? What does that word convey about their experiences/ understandings?

Beyond my intense interest in language, I really enjoy lifting weights; I focus on one body part per day in the gym (e.g. Monday: legs, Tuesday: arms, etc.) and love taking walks with my pug, Samson.

I love IUPUI! I've spent all my professional life here obtaining two degrees along the way.

I daydream about living in a beach house in Daytona with my husband. I have three children, five grandchildren, one dog, nine fish, and my mother lives with us full-time. I love to garden (flowers), go on cruises, crochet, and listen to audiobooks. I'm a Christian which defines who I am.

Don't touch the corner piece of cake--all of them are MINE! My lifelong (non-realistic) dream has been to visit the Great Pyramids and put my hand on a block of stone, which suddenly moves opening up an undiscovered tomb. Sadly, I can tell you what happens in all of the Brady Bunch episodes. 

Since I read a lot, I keep a list of every book I read every year (catch me on Goodreads). Favorite authors: Stephen King, Stuart Woods, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, and Lillian Jackson Braun. 

I am an IUPUI alumna. In my spare time, I love reading historical and science fiction novels. I enjoy traveling to new countries however I am a homebody and my favorite vacation tends to be a stay-cation.

Specialties:

Anything computer related, from the basic word processor to full office networked integration and security.

Fun stuff:

I have also lived in Minnesota and Michigan

Own 2 dachshunds - very lively and full of excitement

Met Jay Leno at a McDonalds in Las Vegas

I am now the proud cat mom of two little cats. We have our oldest, Pepe Le Mew and then our new addition is Ringo. Pep is my orange baby and Ringo is gray. Ringo is a little guy who will eat anything, including almost all human food (he once ate an entire steak while my back was turned). Pep loves cuddles and greeting me at the door when I get home from work.

I have been with this office as a part-time student office assistant for 3 years and in 2019 changed to my full-time position here after finishing my undergraduate. This campus has been so much fun that I had to figure out a way to stay for many years to come.

My favorite food is chips, salsa, and queso pretty much from any Mexican restaurant, but specifically Lucianas. I'm only putting this one down in case someone wants to surprise me.