Ancelin Quinones,
Administrative Assistant II, Dean's Office, College of Liberal Arts
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| How long have you been at RIT? |
I have been here for 11 years now.
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Please describe your responsibilities at RIT. |
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I am the administrative assistant to the dean in the College of Liberal Arts. I handle all of Kelly’s calendaring, meeting requests, and lots of everything else she asks me to do. I assist with the tenure and promotion process, performance appraisal process, an absolute ton of organizing, and am also the college’s Length of Service Award Liaison. There are other bits, but I can’t list everything. I am learning more about the academic side of campus having worked previously in student affairs, so I have a lot more interaction with the faculty.
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What is it about your job that keeps you here? |
I really love the relationship I have with my colleagues. We have mutual respect, and everyone tries to do their very best and help each other out. I also love this campus. RIT is my little nerdy home away from home.
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What skill set have you found to be helpful in the work you do? |
Attention to detail is key with this kind of role. There are lots of moving parts when you’re coordinating with campus partners and being sent requests for things on the fly. Being able to keep in mind the small details without losing the big picture helps me the best. Being able to problem-solve also helps. I don’t crumble when I run into an unknown, I figure it out and seek help when needed.
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Would you share some of your professional journey? |
I came to Rochester initially for school and ended up working as the overnight page operator at Highland Hospital. From then on, I went working up through various stages of medical secretary in different medical offices and made it here to RIT at the Student Health Center. After 10 years at the SHC, it was time for a change and wanting to learn and work in higher education outside of healthcare. The opportunity came in the form of administrative assistant II to the Dean, and it was a great move! I have a lot of campus knowledge that transferred over and contacts which have been helpful for faculty and students here. I am still in a position of learning where I am and feel a great sense of accomplishment here.
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| Do you have any advice for those just starting their careers who would like to do what you do? |
For those just starting, it’s tough to see the line between learning and expanding your knowledge and keeping balance. Have a trusted friend to ask about those kinds of things. YouTube is the best resource when trying to learn how to do things! I have looked up how to do different things in Photoshop, Excel, Adobe, all of it! It’s the best tool!
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We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Are there any individuals that you admire and feel others should know about? Are there family members you have always looked up to? |
I have always looked up to my parents. I have a big family and a large extended family, and I really am thankful they raised my sisters and I the way they did. They wanted us to be independent, smart, and strong. Different customs and behaviors are passed on generation to generation; however, my parents wanted us to make choices for ourselves, just as they found their own paths. They were both highly respected in the different jobs they had, and they were not supervisors. They instilled and lived the example that everyone has value no matter where you are professionally.
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I am actually the Dean’s office Rabbit Lady! I have had bunnies since I was 17. Guinea pigs too.
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You find your seat on a plane and wow! You’re next to someone you’ve always wanted to meet and have a conversation with. They’re happy to talk-so who is it and why?
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My inner nerd would be very happy to see Patrick Stewart on a plane willing to talk to me. I really liked Star Trek: The Next Generation even though I started to watch it after it was off the air. It was my intro to his acting. I saw The Ride Down Mt. Morgan when it was running off Broadway which was VERY different, and he’s been involved in Pitbull dog rescue so yeah, I’d have fun talking to him!
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Best spot on the RIT campus? |
Javas, but I miss them in the summer.
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Any funny childhood memories that still make the family laugh? |
My poor dad was working on laying down the floor on the 2nd floor of our house. He lost his footing, and his foot came through the ceiling. My sisters and I were all in the living room and I remember just reacting, grabbing my younger sister, and pulling her backward with me on the couch. He was cussing himself trying to get his foot back up while we were all laughing in the living room.
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One food you absolutely refuse to eat? |
Tripe. I have a lot of relatives who eat it, and I just cannot!
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What is your hometown and for what is it best known? |
My hometown is the Bronx. Best known for being the birthplace of Hip-Hop and home of the Yankees.
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What would your friends or colleagues be surprised to learn about you? |
Most people are surprised to learn I’m a licensed massage therapist. While not currently in practice, the knowledge I gained was incredibly helpful working in healthcare. Especially when you’re dealing with insurance companies, it’s nice to know the meaning behind a lot of the terminology.
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