When did you start out with AACRAO?
I’ve been at AACRAO for about 10 years now, but I’ve been in this particular role for about 4 years.
I began as a student intern while I was finishing up my master’s degree in Pastoral Studies. I mostly did data entry for AACRAO’s Transfer Credit Practices (TCP) online. After about a year, I worked as the receptionist before transitioning into a role with the membership department, not too dissimilar from Corinne MacIntire and Drew Carlisle. I worked those roles until I started in my present capacity.
Can you share some of your favorite things about working with Publications and Membership?
I really like taking a publication from start to finish. For example, one of the books I’m really proud of working on was Helping Veteran’s Succeed: A Handbook for Higher Education Administrators. I helped develop the topics, I recruited AACRAO members who were experts on veteran’s services, I edited the work, helped design the layout of the final book, and set out with a marketing plan. It was really great to work with members who were so passionate about the topic. And it’s a publication that I hope has a positive impact on veterans as they return home.
In all your years here with us, what meeting has been your favorite?
Well I’ve missed a few for my babies, but I really enjoyed our meeting in San Diego from 2006. The weather was amazing and the property was beautiful. One night, we took a boat to have dinner at the Hotel del Coronado, which is where they filmed Some Like it Hot, one of my favorite movies.
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I was actually born in Paris, but my family moved a lot within Europe. I went through 7 separate education systems, so I speak French and English fluently. I didn’t actually come to the United States until I was 17 to attend Georgetown University. While in school I did a year abroad split between Senegal and Chile, where I also became fluent in Spanish. This has actually come in handy for AACRAO. Last year, there was a symposium where AACRAO directors met with representatives from the French Ministry of Education to discuss degree equivalencies.
So I’ve missed a fair number of cultural milestones unique to the U.S. People will make references to shows they watched growing up and half the time I have no idea what they’re talking about, because I grew up abroad!