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I have worked at AU forÌýabout 24 and a half years.ÌýBefore that,ÌýI was at Middle Tennessee State in a similar role in campus recreation.

In my job,ÌýIÌýtry to interact with students as much as I can. Sometimes, club teams want to talk about policies and procedures, or I’ll just have students come sit and have conversations about their lives: student workers, club-team students, student athletes, and students in the rec field.ÌýIn a typical day,ÌýI get a lot of stuff done early because after 9 a.m., all the meetings start. I try and give myself time to walk around campus and see folks.

I grew upÌýplaying sports. I started off with softball and basketball, but when I got to college, I ended up fencing for three years. My senior year, we went to our regional NCAA tournament.ÌýI show my AU spiritÌýbyÌýgoing to the women’s basketball games. When field hockey and soccer are in season, I go to those games if I can.ÌýMy colleagues and I also wear our American University gear on Fridays to support the school.ÌýMy office isÌýon the second floor of the sports center.

The person who helped show me the ropes isÌýmy old boss, Roger Moffatt.ÌýI first found my community at AUÌýthrough Fanta Aw, Kogod/BSBA ’90, SPA/MPA ’94, CAS/PhD ’11, former vice president for ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ enrollment, campus life, and inclusive excellence. From there, I started reaching out to other folks in the African American community. And I’m in Delta Sigma Theta, and there are a number of women here in the same sorority.

My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet momentÌýis the Woods Brown Amphitheater.ÌýCampus is prettiestÌýin the spring because the cherry blossoms come out.

When I’m not at work, you can find meÌýhaving dinner with friends and going to as many games as I can to support the athletes. And then I’ll go shopping here and there—but I have to have a mission.ÌýIn terms of hobbies,ÌýI love puzzles, and I like to read articles online.ÌýThe last great show I watched wasÌýPercy Jackson [and the Olympians]. And I loveÌýRizzoli and Isles, HGTV, andÌýStar Trek.ÌýThe last great meal I ate wasÌýat Coastal Flats with a friend. I had trout.ÌýMy go-to Starbucks order isÌýa vanilla latte with almond milk.

The most famous face I’ve seen on campus isÌýBarack Obama. Ted Kennedy gave his endorsement, and then Barack spoke after. It was absolutely a madhouse here, but it was truly, truly awesome.ÌýMy most Washington moment wasÌýattending the fourth of July celebration on the Mall. It’s so neat, especially if you’re facing the Washington Monument and the fireworks are going off behind it. I think everyone should experience that at least once.

If I wasn’t an associate athletics director,ÌýIÌýprobably would still be in the same field but working in commercial fitness facilities or wellness centers with a different group of people—maybe older folks.ÌýMy job at AU is best becauseÌýI’m working with students to perform and get better at their craft and shaping my young, professional staff to move forward in their careers. I like the flexibility of being able to work from home or go to a swim meet, and I’m able to support students. That’s the part that I really enjoy.

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