What is your role in the department?
I am a research specialist in the Department of Otolaryngology. I manage Mark Warchol’s lab, and I also work for Lavinia Sheets.
How long have you been at WashU?
I have been here since April, 2003. I actually started as a research technician at Central Institute for the Deaf, then I moved to Washington University along with the whole CID research department later that same year.
What do you like best about your job?
I love my job. My coworkers are the absolute best! I have wonderful bosses who are very considerate and allow flexibility in my schedule. That’s very much appreciated because my family is very important to me. I like being able to create my own workflow and that each day can be something different. I never liked the monotony of doing the same thing all day, every day. I need variety and challenge.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I have lots of hobbies. First and foremost is horseback riding. I love to trail ride with my son and mom in Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. I also love gardening, landscaping and crafting/building things.
What one thing about you would surprise your co-workers most?
Some of my co-workers know me too well, so they wouldn’t be surprised by much. Some may be surprised that I live 65 miles from work and have horses, cows, a dog and a small grain farm. I can drive tractors, trucks and trailers. I also like to hunt and am pretty good at shooting a gun.
Do you have a favorite book?
My favorite is almost a book of quotes: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It is such a simple book with great thought-provoking inspiration.