The Program Manager for the Office of Engineering Digital Education at 精品SM在线影片, Abby believes that faculty and administrators are the stewards of equitable online higher education. She has worked for almost 20 years as an administrator at Loyola University and the University of Northern Colorado, and now program manager at the 精品SM在线影片. Currently, she is pursuing her Education Doctorate from University of Colorado Denver. Abby loves traveling the globe with her husband, hiking, and snuggling her two dogs and one (salty & vengeful) cat.
Describe one of your favorite traditions
An odd family tradition is watching The Godfather on Thanksgiving. I鈥檓 of Irish, Czech, and Italian descent. But our family primarily celebrates our Italian heritage. I鈥檓 unsure when this tradition started, but Thanksgiving doesn鈥檛 feel complete if The Godfather isn鈥檛 playing while prepping dinner. I never found this unique until my husband, who is not Italian, mentioned it during his first Thanksgiving with us. I鈥檓 certain he still hasn鈥檛 watched the movie from beginning to end!
What do you most like to do to unwind?
During quarantine, I developed an interest in plants even though I did not have a green thumb at the time. But I managed to keep a few alive. When we moved into our house last year, we inherited a large family of plants. Last count, we have 54 plants, no two alike. If you鈥檙e ever at Ecther鈥檚 Nursery on a weekend, you might spot me spending way too much money on more plants and plant accessories.
Where is the best place you鈥檝e traveled to and why?
I鈥檝e traveled all over, but my heart returns to two places: Peru and South Africa. Both places pulled me out of my comfort zone. And both introduced me to cultures and sites that made me realize two things: 1) despite the miles and differences, we can have meaningful connections with others, 2) learning the language (or some basic phrases) is helpful, because pantomiming is not. My favorite experiences from each place were watching an alpaca climb into a taxi in Peru and dancing the 鈥渄itolo bonya鈥� (translates to the dance of the smiling buttocks) with a group of teenage girls from QwaQwa, South Africa.
What鈥檚 something most people don鈥檛 know about you?聽聽
My fourth cousin was Beniamino Gigli, the Italian tenor who replaced Enrico Caruso at the Met Opera House. It should then come as no surprise given my heritage that I studied opera and musical theater in my first few years of college. However, I realized early on that no matter how I tried, my voice would never fill an opera house. So, I finished out my college career in Classics.
What was the first concert you attended?聽
Some of my favorite bands are Smashing Pumpkins, Chevelle, and Tool. But in the 80s when I was in middle school, my tastes were vastly different. My very first concert ticket was a Christmas gift from my sister. We went to see New Kids on the Block in Raleigh, NC. I don鈥檛 remember the concert, but I fondly remember that gift. Ever since, I see as many concerts as I can thanks to my sister sparking that passion in me.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
My fear of making mistakes can be consuming. I want to do a good job, but there鈥檚 always this fear that I鈥檒l permanently 鈥渂reak鈥� something. My boss at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley noticed this early on. She told me after some mistake, 鈥渨e aren鈥檛 doing brain surgery at work鈥攏obody will die鈥攕o don鈥檛 stress it.鈥� Ever since then, I give myself grace. I look at the mistake, own it, and make it right. Thanks for the advice, Stephanie!