What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
I work as a Travel Program Technician in the Business Affairs Office (BAO) Travel Office. The Travel Office works directly with travelers and with department travel delegates to assist with all areas of university business travel from the planning stages through to the expense reimbursement process. 

What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?
My current position involves customer service and problem solving, IRS Accountable Plan and travel policy compliance, accounting, and leading monthly workshops and discussions to build a knowledgeable community of travel delegates and create connections all over campus. 

What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I graduated from the UO with a BA in History and had plans to teach middle school or high school social studies. When I graduated, I wanted to experience life outside of academia and landed a job with a local dentist’s office working in the front office. I learned a lot about teeth, patient care, insurance billing, and accounts receivables. I moved on to work in the accounting office at a local collections agency where my accounting brain thrived and I learned much about myself: I like systems, patterns, and lists. In addition to knowing my own work processes, I like to know the steps that come before and after my part. This helps me to anticipate and improve how I work with colleagues. 

During this time, I got married and began to look forward to having a family. Before I could settle down with kids, I wanted to go back to school and fulfill my dream of teaching. I was accepted to Pacific University’s Teaching Program where I earned my Master of Arts degree in Teaching. I spent a year as a substitute teacher, and it was so much fun, but there were very few full-time teaching positions in my field at the time, and I wanted consistent work. I chose to apply to the UO so I could work in an educational setting.

I began working at the UO in Student Services as an Office Specialist/Executive Assistant; doing travel planning for students and staff became a large part of my job as well as accounting and budget planning. I then worked briefly with University Advancement assisting development officers on the regional team; one of my primary duties was travel planning. When the job opened in the Travel Office, it felt like a natural next step professionally. I jumped at the opportunity to combine and apply my experiences with accounting, travel planning, and teaching. I hoped to bring the experience I gained working in UO departments to this central position so I could serve as a bridge and share the perspective of department travel delegates with the Travel Office and vice versa. 

How has working at UO enabled your professional goals and interests?
I love to learn, and working at the UO has allowed me to keep learning about my job, how to be a better communicator, and about topics that help me to be a better citizen of the world. I have had the opportunity to work in a few positions on campus, each position preparing me for the next, and in my current position, I get to combine all of my knowledge in accounting, travel, teaching, and creative problem solving to perform my job. 

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
Leading discussions and training workshops is a large part of my job, and I have had to overcome fears about speaking publicly. This seems strange since I enjoy teaching, which usually involves being at the front of the room, but speaking to kids about the fascinations of history, geography, and economics is sometimes easier than trying to convince UO staff of the virtues of the IRS Accountable Plan (smile). I have learned that if I can get past my introductory comments, I can take a breath and then the rest of the presentation or training is more relaxed. After that, being at the front of the room can be a lot of fun. 

What do you like about your current position?
One of the best parts about my job is the people I get to work with, both in Business Affairs and all over campus. The people on my team are smart, gracious, and take the time to collaborate and creatively problem solve. Great ideas are noticed and called out and ideas in development are encouraged. I also enjoy that working in the Travel Office allows me a tiny peek into the various programs and departments at the UO. People are doing really interesting things out there, and it is fun to learn how a single trip contributes to a field of study. Further, I like being a travel nerd who is up to date on travel industry trends, and I’m able to apply my acquired travel knowledge to help people plan trips.

Please share some insight into what your job involves.
I am able to problem solve every day in my job. Sometimes I am helping to clarify a piece of policy or a specific process and the answer is simple; sometimes there are scenarios where every question leads to another question. It is a great feeling when you know a traveler has what they need, can feel safe as they travel, and feels like the reimbursement process will be attainable. My favorite part of this job is when we get to work with departments directly, listening to their needs and pain points, and seeing how we can improve the process for them. I love when I get to contribute to an “Aha” moment for someone and when I hear something that clicks for me and brings an issue into clearer focus. 

What advice do you have for others; what secrets would you share for someone considering applying to the UO?
If I were to offer advice for people just beginning their career with the UO it would be: be patient with yourself as you learn how your department and campus functions. We are a big institution with many moving parts, and it takes some time to learn processes and what/who your resources are. Know that you are part of a community of gifted individuals; learn from your colleagues; ask lots of questions; and don’t be afraid to make bold suggestions to solve problems.

A bit about me:

• Family: When I am away from work I enjoy spending time with my husband, two daughters, and our family canine. Together, we like to watch movies from the Marvel Universe, create inside jokes that make us laugh and laugh (but would seem totally dorky to outsiders), and be at home together where we share our creative pursuits in writing, drawing, and crafting. I love to sew and engage in other fiber crafts using lots of vibrant color. I enjoy learning new techniques and mediums, but I have to be selective because there is not enough time in my day or space in my house for all of my creative interests.
• Favorite food: My favorite food is ice cream and my favorite flavor truly is vanilla. It is delicious plain, but also serves as a blank canvas for any number of toppings.
• How I would like to be remembered: I would like to be remembered as a kind person who did not mind being a work in progress.

(January 2022)