Candidate Statement

I'm currently the Assistant Director of the University of Iowa Writing Center, a position I've held for the last nine years. I also teach as an adjunct for the Departments of Anthropology and Gender, Women's, and Sexuality. Two issues that are of particular concern to staff—as well as being areas in which they have a lot of expertise—are equity and work-life balance. UI staff are a diverse group of people who work hard to create an inclusive environment where all contributions are welcomed and all voices are heard, not just by immediate supervisors but by university leaders. They have a deep understanding of our organizational needs and draw on a broad set of experiences and skills to support the University in ways that are not always recognized. Staff are also continually developing creative approaches to the perennial problem of work-life balance. The expansion of remote and hybrid work options has offered new opportunities in this area, but also new challenges.