What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
I work within Administrative Services as a member of the External Relations Administrative Services (ERAS) business hub, supporting University Advancement, University Communications, and Government and Community Relations. 

What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?
I am the Payroll Specialist supporting University Advancement, University Communications, and Government and Community Relations. I work within the Human Resources team in ERAS, and my major responsibility is ensuring that all our staff are paid accurately. My day-to-day tasks include reviewing and approving timesheets, training new staff on the use of our timekeeping system, and troubleshooting any payroll-related questions that arise within the departments I support.

What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I’ve heard that your twenties are meant for exploration and finding where your passions lie, and my winding career path proves that I have taken that notion to heart! 

Since earning my Master’s degree in Forensic Anthropology from Boston University in 2018, I began exploring career opportunities in archaeology and anthropology – I worked as a Park Ranger in the mountains of Colorado and as an Archaeological Field Technician in Colorado Springs. Those were both incredible, life-changing jobs that taught me a great deal about working with the public and preserving precious resources. 

During the pandemic, my wife and I moved to her home state of Illinois to be closer to family, and my career pivoted in another direction I had always been interested in – higher education. I took a job as the Office Manager of Northern Illinois University’s Psychology Clinic.   As a self-proclaimed life-long learner, I felt right at home working in a university setting. We moved back to Colorado a couple of years later, and I became the Office Coordinator for the Dean of Students office at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. 

When my younger sibling told my wife and I that their next stop was the University of Oregon to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies and invited us to come along, we thought it sounded like another great adventure. We packed up and moved to Eugene in Fall 2023, so I’m very new to Oregon and to the UO. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to explore the Pacific Northwest and to check off some bucket list items along the way, all while growing my career in a new direction! 

How has working at UO enabled your professional goals and interests?
My new position within ERAS’s HR team has already taught me so much and it hasn’t even been six months since I joined UO! Working in HR, especially in a university setting, feels like a logical progression from my background in anthropology and my passion for working with people. UO’s working culture clearly supports continued professional development and growth, so I am eager to pursue that during my time here. As someone who always strives to continue learning and expanding my skillset, I definitely feel like I’m in the right place. 

Please share some insight into what your job involves (e.g., something you had to solve, a complicated situation that worked out well, something you are proud of, etc.)
I joined the ERAS HR team during a time of change. My incredible predecessor, Sandi Ash, is preparing to retire (she has a countdown clock and everything!), so I started my job with the opportunity to train under her and ensure a smooth transition. At the same time, the newly formed ERAS business hub gained a new leader, and shortly after that, two of the departments we support also gained new leaders. There has been a great deal of transition, but I’m very excited to be here as these teams develop. 

What advice do you have for someone thinking of applying to the UO?
We tend to stand in the way of our own successes or potential opportunities because we give in to our doubt - but if you never try, you’ll never know. If you see a job posting that sparks your interest, don’t get in your own way or start thinking of all the reasons it may not work out. Just try putting yourself out there and see what happens! You never know where you might end up, and life is too short to let opportunities pass you by.

Share a little about yourself personally:

• Family: My Oregon-based family includes my wife Lexie, my sibling and proud UO student Kit, along with 2 lively bearded dragons (Draco and Norberta) and a ball python (Axel), who is surprisingly adorable for a snake. The rest of my very large family is scattered around the country, with most of my immediate family based in Colorado.
• Recent hobbies: Creative writing (working on the second draft of my first novel!), Crochet (just taught myself last month so I can only make granny squares), Perfecting my double chocolate muffin recipe (the secret is Greek yogurt).
• Favorite guilty pleasure dessert: I will literally never turn down crème brûlée.
• Current bucket list item: My wife and I are currently planning our 2024 camping trips, and we’re hoping to hit all of the National Parks in Oregon and Washington this year! 
• If you could have the answer to any question, what would it be? Was Doug Forcett right about the design of the afterlife? (If you haven’t watched The Good Place, this is your sign! Warning: You’ll need some tissues for season 4!)

(March 2024)