How long have you been at RIT?
30 years.
Describe your responsibilities at RIT.
Technically, a dean’s responsibilities include academic, administrative, and budgetary management for Saunders College, but really, it’s so much more than this. It’s really about working with a wonderful team of faculty, staff, students and alumni to move Saunders College forward in positive ways! I love being part of this community – and feel we have made great strides over the past 10+ years, including completion of our building renovation and expansion, creating a state-of-art learning environment that has been transformational in how we learn and collaborate and engage!
What is it about your job that keeps you here?
Interactions with so many interesting people – students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Please briefly share some of your professional journey.
I am an RIT alum – receiving my undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering in the 80s – so, I grew a strong affinity based on my undergraduate experience, developing strong relationships with the faculty and university, through both academics and athletics – I played on the women’s soccer team. So, RIT was a very special place to me!
I went on to graduate school, at NC State and UB, but stayed in touch with RIT faculty - and then returned to RIT as an assistant professor in Industrial Engineering/KGCOE in 1994. In 2000, I became Department Head of Industrial Engineering (now Industrial & Systems Engineering), working to grow and develop our programs and facilities. In 2010, I became Associate Dean of KGCOE. In 2014, I became Interim Dean Saunders College of Business. I was only planning to stay for a year, while they searched for a new dean, but in 2015 I became dean, and the rest is history. I fell in love with the Saunders College community and feel so privileged to work with this amazing group of faculty, staff, students and alumni. It is an amazing place!
Saunders hosts so many different programs to ensure students are ready for the workforce. One of them is “Power Your Potential (PYP),” a women’s leadership conference now in its 15th year. As a woman leader, why do you feel it is important to provide programming like this? Did you have similar opportunities when you were starting out, as a student and as a younger professional?
There wasn’t as much of this type of programming and I didn’t really take advantage.
But PYP is a wonderful event – so much energy at this event. I think it really provides a platform for aspiring women leaders to become inspired, through our programming, grow confidence and network.
What three things do you hope students at Saunders College of Business take with them when they graduate?
Relevant/marketable skill set. Confidence. Appreciation for life-long learning. To succeed they need to keep developing and learning, starting the day they graduate.
You’re not only the Dean at Saunders, but you’re also in the classroom. You must be very good with time management. Do you have any tips for others?
My memory is getting bad, so I make to-do lists, typically on sticky notes. I’m very task-focused, so I love crossing things off the list and getting it done!
Stay up on email and try to clear it out every day. It’s too overwhelming if I let it go.
You can get a lot done in a 30-minute meeting. You don’t need an hour for a lot of them.
Why is it important to you to be in the classroom?
I only help coordinate an honors seminar, so I can’t take credit for teaching a full class – but it does help you to see what faculty must do – continuous updating, keeping up with new technologies and University requirements. I have so much respect for our faculty and their commitment to our students…
Your leadership and achievements are to be emulated. You are a role model to so many women. Any advice you might share with those who are just starting their professional journeys?
Engage, grow your professional network, take advantage of new/unanticipated opportunities, even if they seem overwhelming. Otherwise, I never would have become a B-school dean!
We are celebrating Women’s History Month. Who are some women who inspire you?
Indra Nooyi, Anne Mulcahy, Mary Barra, all successful, yet compassionate, CEOs.
Closer to home…Ellen Granberg, Mary Beth Cooper, Debbie Stendardi. I had the privilege to work closely with all three of them – high standards, driven, engaged, passionate AND compassionate.
Fun Facts
Favorite spot on the RIT campus?
Java Wally’s – love their Tra-Que Chai tea!
What memory of your childhood always makes you smile?
Camping in the ADKs with my family, playing football and soccer with my brother and “the boys,” playing in the creek behind my house.
Do you have a favorite podcast or book that you would recommend to a friend?
Indra Nooyi – My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future. She is so inspiring. From Amazon - “For a dozen years as one of the world’s most admired CEOs, Indra Nooyi redefined what it means to be an exceptional leader. The first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 50 company — and one of the foremost strategic thinkers of our time — she transformed PepsiCo with a unique vision, a vigorous pursuit of excellence, and a deep sense of purpose.”
What is the one thing you have been meaning to do, but haven’t gotten to it just yet?
Learn how to play pickle ball – it’s on my list!
What would your friends or colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I love to do outdoor/yard work – mow the lawn, shovel snow, rake the beach, gardening. It gives me time to be outside, think and get a workout in, all at the same time!
