Building community, developing partnerships, collaborating, reaching out, strengthening relationships...I love connecting with others and helping others get connected.
Friends & Family
A major change...enhancement...in my life during the 2008-2009 academic year was an increased attention to building and maintaining relationships. I met a girlfriend in San Francisco, visited many loved ones in Houston, helped celebrate three family milestones in KS/MO, met up with my dad's side of the family in LA, and attended my stepbrother's wedding in Reno. And...locally...I spent more time with my lovely and fun girlfriends and coworkers. How lucky am I to have such great friends and relatives?!
Marriage
I love being married and connected to my husband, Jon. We truly feel our relationship is blessed and has what it takes to go the distance (at least for 44 more years because Jon claims he's trading me in for a younger model on our 50th wedding anniversary). It's hard to believe it's been almost 15 years since he wrecked his mom's car in my front yard....
Cheerful Givers
My volunteer work as the Puget Sound Coordinator for Cheerful Givers has provided me with ample opportunities to connect. First, it's been a privilege to work with and learn from Karen - the energetic, giving, and appreciative president of Cheerful Givers. Second, I've enjoyed connecting with staff members in great agencies such as Hopelink and Metropolitan Development Council. Third, I enjoy connecting others with volunteer opportunities by participating in events like the Eastside Volunteer Fair and hosting large volunteer events for Washington residents. Finally, and most importantly, I love building a sense of community among friends and coworkers during our quarterly Birthday Bag Blitzes.
Campus Connections
The opportunity to build partnerships and help others build partnerships is a very fun part of my job as the coordinator of graduate student career programming at the University of Washington. I’ve had the good fortune to collaborate with colleagues in the Graduate School,
Graduate & Professional Student Senate,
Counseling Center,
Alumni Association,
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and various
graduate departments. I've enjoyed working with my aforementioned colleagues to help grad students connect with alumni and employers through events like
Career Symposia and . I also enjoy interacting with important populations off campus, such as employers and graduate-level alumni. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I truly believe that students are best served when professionals work together to brainstorm ideas and facilitate events.
Networking Socials
In psychology and other fields there is a gap between science and practice. In other words, much of the important research that is done by professors in academia never makes it into the hands of practitioners where it can be put to use. While I sometimes feel out of place, I enjoy connecting science with practice by being one of only a few practitioners at various conferences. I think it's important for career counselors to attend meetings, sit on committees, and engage in scholarly activities with professors and other researchers. Furthermore, I relish the opportunity to share what I learn at academic conferences with my colleagues and other practitioners.