What you wish you knew then, that you know
now as a faculty member:
I wish I had realized more that we're all in the same boat, and that it is not only okay, but a good idea, to ask for help.
What three steps do you take to prepare for
the school year?
First, I make sure I take a real break with no work-related reading, no e-mail, nothing. Second, I try to get as much of my course planning done as possible so that it's not all-consuming during the academic year. Third, I plan my projects for the year so that I can focus on one at a time, knowing that I've scheduled the others for later.
Most used campus resource and why:
I use the whole set of teaching resources most. As a senior lecturer, teaching is my primary responsibility, so it seems natural for me to use these. The biggest reason I use them, however, is that they make me more efficient.
Most practical advice for balancing teaching,
scholarship, research and life:
I'm a list maker, scheduler, planner, so that's what I do. I plan blocks of time each week for each aspect of my job. And, I very much protect the time for my life. If I feel like I'm not getting enough done at work, I figure out a way to be more efficient - e.g., using the teaching resources on campus, asking for help from a colleague, saying no to something. If it happens that I need to use some of my personal time to get some work done during a crunch time, I don't beat myself up about it.
In and Around the Northwest
Favorite Northwest activity
or pastime:
My favorite thing to do is be by the water - walking, reading, sitting, eating, talking, whatever. And it's so easy to do here!
Favorite weekend getaway:
Olympic Peninsula. As soon as I get off the ferry, I feel like I'm on vacation!
Favorite happy hour and/or restaurant:
Ray's Boathouse on Shilshole.
Favorite place to get cheap eats:
Fiddler's Inn on 35th Avenue NE. A great neighborhood tavern. Both inside & outside seating. Music some nights. It's a pretty slow place, so don't go there when you're in a rush. (Also: wrote a lot of my dissertation sitting here!)
What do you recommend a newcomer to the area
must do and not miss:
Take time to be a tourist here (preferably not during tourist season). Treat yourself to a day downtown, or a day riding the ferries, or an afternoon in a cozy coffee shop.
Fun fact – my childhood aspiration
was to be……..
Two of my earliest memories are (1) teaching my younger brother to color and (2) writing "tests" for my "students" to take in my driveway.....I mean "school." I always wanted to teach, although I did take some detours along the way.
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