Our Team
Describe your team here.
What is your role?
I train the employees of Public Safety. As a licensed Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Instructor, I conduct classes for our security staff on New York State-mandated and Columbia-specific topics. As an American Heart Association (AHA) CPR/AED Instructor, I am also able to give our staff CPR/AED training.
There is an administrative component to my position as well which includes preparing training modules, updating older models, and preparing lesson plans. I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee, as well as the Inclusive Public Safety Working Group. It is an honor to work with such an amazing group of individuals!
My favorite part of my role is instructing classes. I always feel that if I can teach someone something they did not know before they walked in, I did well that day. We have an amazing department which includes diverse and hard working people who come together to keep the University and the surrounding community safe. Not only do I look forward to instructing them on something new, or how to look at things in a different way, I also love to learn from them as well. I walk out of the classroom each time smiling because not only do I love what I do, but I love working with the team we have here at Public Safety. They are exceptional!
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
I believe my greatest accomplishment was being recognized by the students at the Morningside Campus for an incident I responded to a few years ago. I truly believe there is no better reward than to be acknowledged by the student body!
They are an important part of our job. They come here for an education and an amazing experience and it is our job to keep them safe so that they can do so without concern on our campuses. I am proud to have been in uniform and have met so many awesome students along the way. Being recognized by them for the job I did was very special to me.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
The advice I would give would be to work hard, enjoy the work that you do and appreciate the amazing opportunity you have! I have not, nor will I ever take for granted the amazing opportunities working at Columbia offers. I enjoy my position and the training partners I work with.
What is something that others would be surprised to learn about your role?
Many people do not know that we work closely with other departments within the University to train our staff. It is amazing that many departments within the University take the time out to personally speak with our incoming employees. The information they provide is not only helpful, but coming directly from the departments within the University is important!
For example, Residential Life (Morningside) instructs our employees on how to interact with undergraduate students. It is a training that is interactive and informative. Staff are able to go through scenarios and walk through how to handle various situations that may occur while on duty.
What is your role?
I am responsible for managing community-related programs that involve collaborating with small local businesses across various product categories, such as food, beverages, clothing/textiles, dolls, and beauty items. My main role is to connect these businesses with relevant resources and opportunities available at Columbia. Additionally, I oversee the First-Generation Entrepreneurs Program for High School Students, where high school juniors and seniors learn essential skills like QuickBooks and financial concepts to run their own Bookkeeping businesses. Once they acquire these skills, we match them with small businesses in need of Bookkeeping services. Another aspect of my role is organizing the Manhattanville Community Day for the Business School. What I find most fulfilling about my position is the opportunity to engage with people in the community, both internally and externally.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
My greatest accomplishment has been my ability to connect people with one another and with valuable resources at Columbia. It feels great when someone comes back to me and thanks me for providing a recommendation or an introduction.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
Don't be afraid to ask questions; it's the best way to learn about your role and understand the expectations placed upon you. In Addition, keep great records. You will have to refer back to them often.
I would also like to share advice that comes from La-Verna Fountain, my former boss in the Facilities Dept., as well as a mentor and friend. "Focus on your Focus!"
These words have deeply impacted my career. They remind me to always take stock of what is ahead of me and focus on my goals and aspirations.
What is something that others would be surprised to learn about your role?
I think people might be surprised to learn that I've only been in this particular role for one year.
What is your role?
ISERP is a shared resource for faculty and graduate students in social science departments, the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and the Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences MA program (QMSS). It manages numerous grants and programmatic initiatives, resulting in a high volume of hiring. This includes appointing lecturers, adjunct faculty, and teaching assistants for the QMSS program.
In my role, I serve as a liaison to our departments and SIPA, managing the hiring process for academic appointments and human resources functions. I strive for an inclusive approach to appointing faculty, research staff, students, and administrative hires. This includes managing all associated compensation and visa applications. Additionally, I oversee the annual recertification process, conduct performance evaluations, and maintain hiring data, records, and reports.
My favorite aspect of the job is the opportunity to play a role in advancing the careers of future leaders.
Favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is College Walk. This is a gorgeous place to view the campus and observe students rushing to class!
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
My greatest accomplishment is facilitating appointments and hires for faculty, students, and researchers. By managing this process, I enable them to concentrate on their teaching and research within their academic fields.
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Columbia?
My advice to new employees at Columbia is to ask questions if they encounter uncertainty.
When I first started working at Columbia, my supervisor Jo-Ann Rivera advised me against making impulsive decisions. This guidance to think twice has saved me on multiple occasions.
What is your role?
I have been setting up audio and visual equipment for events, conferences, lectures, classes, meetings, and more at Columbia for 27 years. I also film football and basketball games for in-stadium video boards, TV and streaming to viewers at home.
Favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is Low Library because of the rich history. I also like the art exhibits on display throughout the building, especially the Buddha statue in the Faculty Room.
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Columbia?
Meet as many people as you can and to build your network at Columbia, while balancing your work life and personal life.
What is your role?
I assist with enrollment, registration, degree requirements as well as graduate research assistants' offer letters. I also help organize and conduct information sessions for prospective and admitted students. I am responsible for coordinating and providing administrative support for the PhD Monitoring Committee and am the primary contact for all our graduate students from our Department, which has more than 20 faculty and labs.
I ensure their registration, program duration, degree clearances, and dissertation are completed. During the PhD admission process, I collaborate with the PhD Faculty Admissions Committee and Graduate Admissions, and I serve as the point of contact for students. I process and track all admissions decisions with our Senior Student Affairs Manager.
I provide reporting and analysis on enrollment, registration, and course data; student records; and degree clearances. In general, I support the academic and personal development of our students.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
Every year during graduation, I love to see the happiness of my beloved students, to see their faces glowing, and to see their families sharing this treasured moment.
But most of all, I am proud of the work I have done to make sure that every student feels welcome and feels that the Electrical Engineering Department is their home away from home.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
Learn as much as possible about Columbia history and tradition, and treat everybody with respect. Most importantly, learn to love your role.
I was blessed with my first supervisor here who was an inspiration to me, who believed in me, and who inspired me to challenge myself. Through that, I learned that with effort and dedication, dreams can become the most beautiful reality in our lives.
What is your role?
I advise student clubs, work with our incredibly helpful student ambassadors, plan and host well-being events in collaboration with brilliant campus partners, supervise two amazing student employees, dabble in finance work, and support my equally-supportive colleagues in their work creating diverse programs for all students, at all schools, on all campuses here at Columbia!
While in my position, I also had the opportunity to attend the Higher and Postsecondary Education Program at Teachers College (Class of 2022!) and was able to gain a different perspective from my experience as a part-time student and full-time staff member. I gained insight into the capacity of graduate students balancing full-time responsibilities and lived the topics covered in my classes such as sense of belonging, engagement, and leadership development. It felt very meta to be in college working at a college while studying college; clearly I am passionate about higher education.
During this time, I also learned that I was considered a first generation student, as my parents did not attend higher education institutions in this country. I also learned that crying is an acceptable response to the overwhelming feeling that deep in your being, you know education is liberation. I am grateful to have gained this perspective and this education, and encourage everyone to take advantage of the greatest product of this institution.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
My greatest accomplishments at Columbia are little moments. When a student approached my desk in Philosophy Hall a few years ago, he mentioned that he had been feeling down and his advisor recommended visiting our office. I listened, empathized, and pointed out an event we were hosting a few days later. I told him I would be working the event and that I hoped to see him there. When he showed up at the check-in table at the event, it felt like a win.
When students are overheard at the well-being events I host such as Art After Five or other study breaks saying "this is a real stress-buster!" it warms my heart.
When a room full of students making crafts let out a collective "Nooo!" after I announced the event was wrapping up soon, I also wished we could have continued.
I am most proud of the small moments of joy that we have the choice to create for students and each other on a daily basis. Whether in passing giving directions in Kent Hall, or as an adviser making sure a club can bring the president of a country to the University for their event, I have had many small moments of accomplishment and, I hope impact, on the student experience here. I am also grateful for the relationships I have built with colleagues in my office and beyond, and I am glad to be part of a small group of thoughtful, committed people.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
The best advice I have received in my professional career is about receiving feedback: "take the present, throw out the wrapping paper." I learned that feedback is a gift; someone is trying to help you become better in some way. No matter how it was delivered to you, disregard the method of delivery (especially in those cases where it may sting at first) and take the gift of feedback in order to propel yourself to become even better.
Other important pieces that have bounced around in my mind since hearing them have been:
- An attitude of gratitude goes a long way!
- A piece of advice given by a graduate student on a panel for new students said, "You will be juggling a lot. You have to figure out which balls are glass and which are rubber." I have not forgotten this line about prioritizing, and it has helped me visualize tasks in a new way.
- "Take a walk and get some sunshine on your face!" was said to me often by a dear colleague that has given me many gifts, including this necessary aspect of maintaining personal well-being.
What is your role?
In my current role, I supervise a team of professionals responsible for providing exceptional customer service to the faculty and staff of Columbia Nursing. Our team, consisting of five members, collaborates closely to ensure operational excellence. A significant portion of my time is devoted to strategic planning, specifically regarding space management, facilities maintenance, and technology. I also focus on aligning our practices with policies and managing the operational budget of the school. My favorite part of what I do is connecting with people; I really enjoy the conversations.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?
Helping people grow both professionally and personally brings immense joy. There is no greater satisfaction than witnessing the meaningful accomplishments of those you have assisted. When you have the privilege of positively impacting someone's life, everything else pales in comparison.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career here?
Don't be afraid to ask why and challenge the status quo! Thoughtful contemplation is key to innovation.
What is something that others would be surprised to learn about your role?
The sheer breadth of responsibilities is remarkable. A school's operations encompass numerous vital components that keep everything running smoothly. While you may not be aware of them, operations professionals anticipate and seamlessly implement necessary adjustments.