March 27, 2008

When did you begin working in athletics/Number of years in your current position?  My career in athletics began seven years ago at Eastern Washington University. I have been fortunate to experience collegiate athletics at the Division I, II and NAIA levels. I have served at UCR for almost two and half years.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?  After working in other areas of higher education for a dozen years, I wanted to return to the place that inspired my college education and created a life path for which I am sincerely grateful. As a former student-athlete, I've experienced first hand the opportunity we try to create for students through scholarship support. College athletics literally changed my life. I can't think of a better way to channel my time and talents.

What was your path to working in athletics development?  I spent 10 years in intramural sports and student-union management, in which I learned and embraced a student-centered philosophy which I use today. As I grew as a professional, I wanted to channel the skills I learned in a different direction. My introduction to institutional advancement came through a stint in alumni affairs. This was a critical time as I development a foundation of knowledge for external relations.

In your mind, who in this industry can serve as a good role model?  We really have a plethora of good, hard working people in our field. So many faces come to mind of people who probably don't know me or remember our interaction have positively touched me through their actions and advice. I sincerely appreciate those who have taken the time to share their wisdom with me. We can literally benefit from everyone involved in NAADD and NACDA, which is why I value the organization so much.

How has your involvement with NAADD influenced your career?  I attended my first Convention within 4 months of beginning my athletics career so I went with the intention of learning as much as possible. Consequently, I am not afraid to ask questions to find answers. The NAADD network has allowed me to receive a broad based perspective on collegiate athletics that I would not be exposed if I only relied on my campus colleagues and connections. I was actively involved in another professional organization in my former career path, when advised to join NAADD I automatically knew it was something I needed to do.

What is the most important trait to possess for young professionals in athletics development?  Active Listening - It is critical to our success in developing relationships with donors. A donor is going to make a significant gift to our organization because of how their gift makes them feel and how they feel about us. When you show a donor you are genuinely interested in understanding what they are thinking and feeling, it elevates your communication and relationship to a whole new level.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? A former boss taught me her credo "Don't surprise your friends". In my interpretation and implementation of this advice I use the word "friends" loosely. I never want to surprise my boss, the vice chancellor or chancellor with a situation that could have been avoided. I like to communicate potential issues or valid information so I can prepare them for the "what-if" or the "just in case..." For me it is about setting the organization and our leadership up for success. I want to be on the same page.

What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of intercollegiate athletics development?  Don't be afraid to admit you don't know something. Asking questions isn't a shortcoming, unless you don't listen to the response. You'll put yourself in a favorable position if you are willing to seek and accept advice. Be genuine when you seek guidance.

Will you please explain a professional failure/mistake and how you learned from it?  As a task-driven Type-A personality, my focus is sometimes to the extreme. Early in my career I would only half-heartedly listen to advice given to me about how my non-verbal communication was affecting others. My perception was that because there was no malice in my intent, others just needed to understand me better; I was simply trying to work hard and do the best job I could do. What I failed to realize is what I perceived as a real strength, was actually my weakness as well. It is when I worked with someone with a similar personality that I saw how others reacted and the group dynamics were affected.

How do you maintain balance between your professional and personal life?  It takes discipline to have proper balance and it's a skill I'm still working on. Every week is a new challenge, but I know I only have one chance to inspire the lives of my children, so they are the biggest influence for me to keep balance. I try not to loose sight of the gifts bestowed on me, besides my family will put me in check if they feel I'm out of balance.

What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming Convention in Dallas?  Each year I plan to learn one new idea to bring home and implement on my campus. This year I am excited to return to the mentoring luncheon as I thought there was really good dialogue and issues exchanged at the 2007 Convention. But I am also excited to hear from the round table speakers; there's a diverse group of presenters that will bring a different perspective to the topics they're facilitating.