When I first arrived at Rice, I was pretty fresh out of college myself! I had some solid organizational skills, but I still had so much to develop. After joining my amazing team at the Doerr Institute, I found countless opportunities to strengthen my existing skills and stretch into new ones as I explored a completely new environment. Over time, I gained confidence in my skillset and learned how to advocate for myself and my career trajectory. Each step of the way, my team fully supported me and gave me opportunities to excel. Throughout my journey here, my team and the Rice community have given me more support than I could ever imagine. I always know I have so many people in my corner who will come to my rescue and spotlight me in a room.

I manage day-to-day operations for the Doerr Institute's leadership development programs for Rice students and our coach education and training programs. I build and refine the systems that make our programs run each semester while keeping everything scalable as our programs grow. I use data-informed strategy and student-centered design to help elevate the leadership capacity of Rice students and strengthen the field of leader development in higher education. I also support our professional coach education programming, including an ICF Level 1 Coach Education and Training program and a Mentor Coaching program, which expand the Institute's offerings and generate new revenue to sustain our student-focused work.

What motivates me most is knowing I'm part of something bigger than my day-to-day tasks. The Doerr Institute is shaping the next generation of leaders, and I get to play a role in that mission every single day. I'm also deeply motivated by others' development. I remember what it felt like to arrive at Rice, still building my skills and finding my footing. That experience drives me to create the same kind of growth opportunities for the student leaders and coaches I support now. I want them to feel the same confidence and support that my team gave me. Finally, I'm motivated by the chance to use my specific skillset — my organizational strengths, my eye for operations, my ability to advocate for people and programs, all in service of that bigger mission. I don't just want to keep things running smoothly; I want to use what I'm good at to actively push our programs, and the people in them, forward.

Get involved! Meet others, find community, and make friends. Rice is a tight-knit community, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Joining committees and councils not only supports your professional growth but also strengthens your connections across departments.