Age: 36
Occupation: Director of High School Completion Programs, Kirkwood Community College
What’s the best advice you ever received?
When I was in elementary school, my mom had to sit me down and tell me that it was OK to make a mistake and then made me repeat it.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments?
Being selected to serve as alumni board president at Mount Mercy, receiving an Innovation of the Year award at Kirkwood, helping to organizing a regional conference for K-12 online learning, and successfully relocating programming to new locations twice since 2010.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
My family and I song-lead at church one weekend a month, and I’ve ran spotlights for major country music acts.
What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Be willing to delegate and allow others to assist you in your roles. Find what you’re good at, as well as the strengths of others in your organization, and collaborate using your strengths and those of others.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life?
I try my best to leave work at work as much as I can. I have learned to shut off my email when I take vacation and try to limit my responses to email after I leave work for the day.
What do you want to accomplish by the time you are 50?
I would like to visit Poland to see where my grandparents lived when I was a child.
Who are your local mentors?
Carla Andorf, director of skills to employment, Iowa Works; Kim Becicka, vice president of continuing education and outreach services, Kirkwood Community College; Todd Prusha, executive dean of distance learning, Kirkwood Community College.
