Natalie visits Sydney Harbour in Australia
How many years have you worked at UBC?
6 years. I’m currently with with Campus Operations & Risk Management in the Okanagan, but I was also a teaching assistant during my graduate degree. I am fortunate that I’ve been able to work in teaching and research as well as operations. I still participate in the academic side of the house sometimes, by attending guest lectures or presenting my own research (on myth, history, race, gender, and literature) at the occasional conference.
What do you do for the university?
As Assistant to the Director, CORM I do a little bit of everything! I provide the administrative support for Campus Operations office, but my role also involves event planning and communications to the rest of campus about our division’s projects and events. Our division’s portfolio is pretty diverse, so I never know what a work day is going to look like until it happens.
What makes you laugh?
Clever social commentary, funny pet stories, and a really good pun (or a really bad one).
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned?
It’s much more rewarding to try something new and risk doing it imperfectly than it is to hold off because you might not be any good at it.
What is your favourite song or book?
I’m the kind of person who finds it really hard to choose one favourite. If I had to pick something that’s stuck with me recently, I’d say N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy, for its vivid setting and characters.
What’s your favourite or ideal vacation spot?
Of all the places I’ve been to, Rotorua, New Zealand is possibly my favourite. Hot springs, mud geysers, rain forests, volcanoes, and beautiful landscapes all in one place.
How do you like to recharge?
A book, a video game, or an evening of Latin dancing.
What is your vision (personal or for your department)?
My personal vision is to get back into doing some of the creative work that I love: songwriting and fiction writing that hopefully makes its audience think about the world just a little bit differently.
For you, what makes UBC different?
The people! UBCO has a ton of great people and a sense of community that makes this feel like a small campus even as it grows.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Without a doubt, the ability to be in multiple places at once.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Compassion, companionship, and the ability to make people laugh.