What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
Business Affairs, Payroll
What is your current position? What are your job responsibilities?
As the Retirement Payroll Specialist, I deal with recently onboarded, current, retiring, and exiting employees regarding PERS (the Public Employees Retirement System).
What has been your career path? How did you end up in your current position?
I was a Product Manager in Chicago where I was partially responsible for my employees’ payroll. After that, all of the jobs I’ve had have involved payroll in some way.
What is your work history and education that enabled you to attain your current position?
Originally from Chicago, I received my BA in Public Relations/Marketing. I was a Product Manager for a Fortune 500 company, working in Chicago’s World Trade Center. From there, I moved to Colorado, where I managed a year-round guest resort. That brought me to Eugene with my spouse, who was offered a position here. I’m happy to be coming up on my 10-year anniversary here at the University of Oregon.
How has working at the UO enabled your professional goals and interests?
I am extremely lucky to work in a department/unit that encourages personal and professional development through attending trainings and workshops that help me do my job better.
What do you like about your current position?
I like the interactions between all facets of the university: students, GEs (graduate employees), staff, and faculty. No one day is ever the same. And I couldn’t ask for better co-workers; they make coming to work every day enjoyable!
Please share some insight into what your job involves.
Explaining how PERS works, what to do when you are getting close to retirement, and then answering questions that can cover the full gamut of the world of payroll: direct deposit, W-2s, W-4s, DuckWeb, etc. (DuckWeb is the UO's interactive information system for students, faculty, and staff.)
What advice do you have for others? What secrets would you share for someone thinking of applying to the UO?
The UO is a diverse environment where you can meet people from all walks of life. Everyone has a talent or knowledge that is valuable.
Share a little about yourself personally.
I enjoy live music, my dogs, and did I mention live music?
How do you want to be remembered?
That he cared and fought for the rights of everyone to be treated equal.
If you could have the answer to any question, what would it be?
Does Puddles ever have a bad day?
(March 2020)