Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Fort Walton Beach, FL, and my family moved to Minot, ND, when I was five. At the time, my grandfather was in the Air Force and pursued a job at Minot Air Force Base. I attended the University of North Dakota where I received my undergraduate degree in sociology and continued my education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to complete my master’s degree in educational administration. My first jobs after college were at UND and later Minot State University working in the enrollment services department where I helped students explore their college options. I moved to Fargo in 2014 where I landed a job at North Dakota State University in the admission department. I’ve held a few different roles at NDSU and now serve as senior director of strategic enrollment management. I celebrate my ten-year work anniversary at NDSU this spring and have an immense amount of appreciation for the opportunity to support college-bound students and work with incredible faculty and staff who share a deep passion for NDSU. Go Bison!
I am a member of Alpha Chi Omega national sorority and serve as an alumni volunteer at the local, regional, and national levels. My husband, Lance, works as a lead engineer at Cargill in Wahpeton. We have two children, a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. We enjoy going on outdoor adventures as often as possible to fish, hunt, camp, or hike.
What impact did your participation in the program have on you both professionally and personally?
It’s quite difficult to clearly convey the impact this program has, but I’ll try. In a nutshell, it boils down to deepening my self-awareness. This program unapologetically (but politely) shouted to me, “Enough is enough, you are enough!”
What I mean by that is this program allowed me to intentionally press pause and reflect one day a month for six months. Those six days granted me the chance to think deeply and analyze my daily routine inside and out, which helped me flip my perspective. Before the program, I found myself constantly racing against time and feeling defeated for the things I didn’t or couldn’t do, or lacked confidence in doing. I felt like I wasn’t accomplishing enough, present enough, smart enough, or giving enough love and attention to those I love most. I played the constant game of comparison—it was exhausting, and I wasn’t winning. It helped me reframe my priorities and stop worrying about the distractions.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
With sincerest gratitude, thank you United Way of Cass-Clay for providing me the opportunity to better myself through this program. I wish everyone could experience it. I am fortunate for the relationships I’ve made and the knowledge I’ve gained through my time both as a participant and alumni of the program. What a life-changing experience!
