What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
Finance and Administration Shared Services (FASS)
What is your current position; and what are your job responsibilities?
As the Financial Manager, I am responsible for providing comprehensive budget reporting and analysis to Campus Planning and Facilities Management (CPFM), Leased Building and Property Management, and Finance and Administration Shared Services (FASS). This includes a wide variety of items, from monthly financial reports and reconciliations to multiyear financial projections for complicated business units, such as the Utilities and Energy Service Center.
What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
My career path has been a long one; it started halfway around the globe in Taipei, Taiwan where I am originally from. My expertise has always been in accounting and I was already established in Taiwan, but I wanted to continue my education and improve my English so I made the leap and came to the U.S. to study. It was here in Eugene that I received my accounting degree and met my husband. I went back to Taiwan for work, then relocated to the U.S. and performed tax preparation for five years before beginning a career with the city of Eugene. I worked with the city for five years and was ready for an opportunity to advance when I accepted a position as Fiscal Manager at the University of Oregon. I have been providing high-level financial support at the university for more than 11 years now. There have been a lot of changes since then and I have grown and evolved with all of them while ensuring the budgets are completed accurately and on time.
My career path has been a long one; it started halfway around the globe in Taipei, Taiwan where I am originally from. My expertise has always been in accounting and I was already established in Taiwan, but I wanted to continue my education and improve my English so I made the leap and came to the U.S. to study. It was here in Eugene that I received my accounting degree and met my husband. I went back to Taiwan for work, then relocated to the U.S. and performed tax preparation for five years before beginning a career with the city of Eugene. I worked with the city for five years and was ready for an opportunity to advance when I accepted a position as Fiscal Manager at the University of Oregon. I have been providing high-level financial support at the university for more than 11 years now. There have been a lot of changes since then and I have grown and evolved with all of them while ensuring the budgets are completed accurately and on time.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
Immigrating to the U.S. was both a career opportunity and a challenge. It was not easy learning the language and the culture of my new home while also holding on to my roots. To this day, I continue to work on my English, but I take comfort in the fact that numbers are universal and my work can often speak for itself. I am proud of how far I have come but I am never done with trying to learn and improve.
Immigrating to the U.S. was both a career opportunity and a challenge. It was not easy learning the language and the culture of my new home while also holding on to my roots. To this day, I continue to work on my English, but I take comfort in the fact that numbers are universal and my work can often speak for itself. I am proud of how far I have come but I am never done with trying to learn and improve.
How has working at UO enabled your professional goals and interests?
Working at the university has really helped me develop my customer service skills, and I really enjoy being able to interact with people across the VPFA portfolio.
Working at the university has really helped me develop my customer service skills, and I really enjoy being able to interact with people across the VPFA portfolio.
What do you like about your current position?
I feel that I am important component in something much larger. Financially speaking, I can see the big picture and can provide necessary, critical information to the leadership in charge of making the important decisions.
I feel that I am important component in something much larger. Financially speaking, I can see the big picture and can provide necessary, critical information to the leadership in charge of making the important decisions.
What advice would you have for others; what secrets would you share for someone thinking of applying to the UO?
Come to the University of Oregon with the intention of being here for the long haul. There are countless opportunities for professional development and lots of potential to learn new skills and expand your responsibilities. It is also nice to work at a place with so many students; it helps you feel young!
Come to the University of Oregon with the intention of being here for the long haul. There are countless opportunities for professional development and lots of potential to learn new skills and expand your responsibilities. It is also nice to work at a place with so many students; it helps you feel young!
Family: I live in Eugene with husband and my dog, Gougou. The majority of my family lives in Taiwan and we try to see them as often as possible.
Favorite food: Fettuccine Alfredo
Best movie you’ve seen: Mulan
How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who has honesty and integrity.
If you could have the answer to any question, what would it be?
Why is it so hard for people to listen to one another?
Why is it so hard for people to listen to one another?
(September 2018)