Photo by Chuck Bigger
What does your job entail?
I am here to provide student-centered education, programming, and organizational leadership to the Butler Center in its mission to provide an inclusive and respectful academic and work environment. My job is to provide students with advising, personal counseling, and support for holistic and healthy identity development, particularly around Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, and multiracial identity.
Where did you work before CC and what were you doing?
Before I came to CC, I worked at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs as a graduate assistant in the Scholarships Office. There I supported my colleagues in scholarship programming and processed scholarships for students.
Tell us a little about your background.
I am from Holland, Michigan, and graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology and sociology from Hope College —a small liberal arts college. I value diversity and creating an inclusive environment of belonging on campus. This value led me to be involved with multicultural student organizations to help normalize the presence and diverse cultures of BIPOC students.
What do you like to do when not working?
When I am not working, I like to go on hikes and explore the mountains with my husband, Caleb, and our dog, Josie. I love eating and trying different foods. Thankfully, I also love dance fitness (Zumba, Mixxed Fit, SocaFit) to shake off the calories accumulated by restaurant hopping.
Wild card: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with becoming a figure skater. Michele Kwan was my idol, and I wanted a Zuca bag like all the other cool skaters. That dream ended quickly though, when I realized I was not skinny enough (by society’s standards) or rich enough to go very far.
