Employee Spotlight

Rachel Montgomery, Faculty Development & Recruitment Specialist

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:59:56 +0000

Rachel Montgomery, Faculty Development & Recruitment Specialist Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/30/2024 - 10:59

Rachel Montgomery is the faculty development & recruitment specialist with the Office of Faculty Advancement in the College of Engineering & Applied Science. Rachel started in her role at ��񱦵� at the end of May. She completed her PhD in higher education from Pennsylvania State University last August. Rachel recently moved to Colorado from Florida, and she is excited to explore the national and state parks.

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

I appreciate the one-on-one conversations I have been able to have with colleagues from across the college and talking about what it is like to work at ��񱦵� and live in Colorado. Getting to experience the community during the faculty & staff summer cookout was also a highlight of my first few months in my role.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with me! Effective collaboration is built on strong communication. Please reach out via email, Teams, etc.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

I really enjoy cooking for all holidays. I have been collecting cookbooks for the last few years and enjoy the process of testing out new recipes. I do not make desserts; they have never worked out well for me.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Having my morning coffee and watering my plants. I am open to good coffee and native plant recommendations.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

I have now lived in eight states and have had opportunities to experience some cool places. Going "home" to where I grew up in Florida (Tampa Bay) and seeing my family who live there is my favorite.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Survivor.

Photo caption: Rachel (in blue gown and tam) celebrates her PhD graduation with her parents, John and Susan, and sister Megan.

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Amy Javernick-Will, Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:43:25 +0000

Amy Javernick-Will, Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:43

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

I have been a “Forever Buff” – my parents are both CU alumni and have been football season ticket holders since they were in school, and I have fond memories of being a “Ralphie Stampeder” as a child. I was privileged to receive both my BS and MS in civil engineering at CU. After working as a design-build project manager in Denver, I received my PhD at Stanford. Returning to CEAS in 2010 for my faculty career was a dream come true. I felt incredibly supported and welcomed by so many, including my colleagues in the department and the construction engineering & management (research group), and my department chair at the time, JoAnn Silverstein, who paved the way for welcoming more diverse faculty to CEAS. I am incredibly honored to serve as the associate dean of faculty advancement, a role initially served by JoAnn.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

As a family, we try to eat dinner together most nights. At dinner, we each talk about what we were grateful for that day. We all feel much better after expressing their gratitude!

What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?

I am incredibly proud of many projects, but two stand out as particularly rewarding experiences due to great collaborations and the project’s impact on society. One, a project funded by NSF, I collaborated with Prof. Abbie Liel, PhD students, and a colleague in the Department of Communication, Prof. Matt Koschmann, to enhance the safety of homes and buildings in multi-hazard environments. By understanding builders’ perspectives of safety and comparing these to engineering assessments, we were able to target common misalignments. We partnered with local organizations and suppliers to conduct training and offer continued guidance at hardware stores. Another project, funded by USAID, enabled collaborations with Prof. Karl Linden, multiple graduate students, and international partners. We worked with local teams employing collaborative approaches to conduct systems analyses and target actions, such as policies, laws, and contracts, to improve the sustainability of water and sanitation services.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

"Be curious, not judgmental." - Walt Whitman. I love Ted Lasso, where I was introduced to the quote.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

I like to walk, hike, cook, play pickleball, or watch my son’s baseball or soccer games!

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Brooke Nelson, Career Advisor

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:53:49 +0000

Brooke Nelson, Career Advisor Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/02/2024 - 13:53

I grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, with my twin and older sister. Having been born and raised there, I remain a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan to this day. I went to the University of Arkansas, where I earned a BA in English and picked up saying "y'all" all the time. After Arkansas, I moved to Boulder to get my master’s in higher education from CU. I've worked in Disability Services and Academic Advising before moving into my current role and passion of Career Advising. Outside work I enjoy traveling, reading, exploring Colorado, and spending time with my fur-baby, Murphy.

How are getting involved and/or hoping to get involved within the CEAS community?

I've served on Engineering Staff Council for the past two years, including serving as chair of the Staff Retention Committee and the council vice chair.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Playing beach volleyball with my family in July.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

"She could rattle the stars. She could do anything if only she dared." - Sarah J. Maas. This quote always reminds me that we have the capability of making great change. We just have to have the courage to go after it.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Watching a kdrama, definitely!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

Cinque Terre in Italy! It's five connected fishing villages on the coast of Italy that my twin sister and I visited while backpacking. I've truly never met a more kind and welcoming group of people. There was so much to do there and the views were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I am also a writer in my free time and have two short stories published.

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Victoria Lanaghan, Program Coordinator, Idea Forge

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:49:40 +0000

Victoria Lanaghan, Program Coordinator, Idea Forge Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/04/2024 - 08:49

I was born in England but have lived in Colorado since I can remember. I did my undergrad at CU, where I started working in mechanical engineering as a student employee in 2008, and I’ve been here ever since. After I graduated, I spent several years working at the ITLL, and now am at the Idea Forge. I enjoy hanging out with friends, camping, seeing new places, cooking (and eating), building Legos, and have recently gotten into a summer habit of road tripping to national parks.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

My commute from Lakewood takes me along Highway 93. During the winter months, if my drive is timed right, I see the sunrise hit the Flatirons and get to watch them change from dark to purple to orange, and it is a highlight of my day whenever that happens.

Also, on a cold day, I also love getting into a toasty warm bed with freshly laundered sheets.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Spend time with friends – it doesn’t really matter what we’re doing, whether it’s camping, cooking, hiking, playing games, working on house projects, gardening, hanging out and watching Star Trek reruns, or doing nothing at all.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Well, anyone who has ventured anywhere with me is probably aware, but I have an astonishingly bad sense of direction. I can get lost making a U-turn.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on ...

Definitely gear. I love buying gear for pretty much any (often impulsively selected) expensive hobby.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Little Debbie Nutty Bars … they’re so awful and so fabulous at the same time.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Doctor Who, definitely.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To always assume good intentions. People are all trying their best. It is easy for us to judge ourselves by our own intentions, and yet to judge other people by their observed actions. It’s important to give people the benefit of the doubt, and to assume that we are all doing the best that we can in a given situation.

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Tomoko Borsa, Facility Manager for COSINC

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:04:31 +0000

Tomoko Borsa, Facility Manager for COSINC Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2024 - 10:04

I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Colorado for graduate school. Since then, I have been living in this beautiful state. After completing my degrees — PhD in materials science from Colorado School of Mines and MS in electrical engineering from ��񱦵�, I got a chance to start working on campus. I have been primarily involved in the nanofabrication and characterization field.

How are you getting involved and/or hoping to get involved within the CEAS community?

Through my work as a facility manager for COSINC-CHR, I have been assisting many research projects within the CEAS community and beyond.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

COSINC is one of the open user facilities on campus. So if one or more of our tools could help your project, just contact us. We would be happy to collaborate.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

It is when I'm sipping a cup of cappuccino, and it tastes good to me.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Bread baking. I feel relaxed when touching bread dough.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to, and why?

There are many places I love, but if I had to choose one, the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park would be it. Why? Maybe I fell in love with this special place. It has the most beautiful and unique rock formations, the smell of the air is gorgeous, listening to the wind sound is soothing, and I can breathe deeply.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Do not regret things you did not do. Instead, do them and regret them afterward. I usually don't regret things I did.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Driving. I am willing to commute long distances because I like where we live. I also enjoy making road trips to various places in the West. For both reasons, my car keeps adding many miles quickly.

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Robyn Sandekian, Director of Faculty Advancement

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:27:47 +0000

Robyn Sandekian, Director of Faculty Advancement Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/02/2024 - 11:27

Robyn will be retiring in May after spending nearly 30 years with ��񱦵� and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. For her Employee Spotlight, she reflected on the work she has done to “change the face of CU Engineering.”

I was born and raised in Denver as the youngest daughter of an engineer and a nurse. By the age of 10, I was convinced that I wanted to be an astronaut and believed that the only pathway to fulfill that dream was to become an aerospace engineer. That singular focus led me to enroll in the aerospace engineering department here at ��񱦵� in the late 1980s. It thus began a four-decade relationship with the ��񱦵� campus and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. By the time I graduated with my MS degree in aerospace, I had found lifelong friends and the love of my life but felt that I was no longer on the path to becoming an astronaut. I decided that what was most important to me in the short term was to increase the number of women studying engineering and to improve the culture of the college so that it would be more inclusive for those who followed in my academic footsteps. So, my first job post-graduation was as the program coordinator for the Women in Engineering Program.

Over my career, I am proud of the work that I have done to change the face of CU Engineering. I was one of the first two student assistants who worked with Dr. Miriam Maslanik, the Women in Engineering Program founder. Although that work was fulfilling, I felt that I could make a greater impact by broadening my focus to supporting all students on campus. I joined the Student Odyssey Project in 1999 and was the co-creator and founding manager of Ralphie’s Resource Center, which existed at Norlin Library in the early 2000s. Ralphie’s was “the place to go when you need to know” and we helped students navigate the maze of administrative offices and processes encountered on campus. When Ralphie’s closed due to budget cuts in 2003, I had the great fortune of returning to the College of Engineering and Applied Science. I supported the development of the college’s active learning program, and then alongside Dr. Bernad Amadei, I helped found and manage the Engineering for Developing Communities Program for 15 years.

After earning an education specialist (EdS) degree in educational leadership and policy studies in 2011, and then my doctorate in higher education and student affairs leadership from the University of Northern Colorado in 2017, I pivoted my focus once again to supporting faculty in our college. I worked with Dr. JoAnn Silverstein, the inaugural associate dean for faculty advancement, and Dr. Bev Louie, another former leader of the Women in Engineering Program, to start to incorporate transparency and inclusive policies and practices throughout faculty hiring and promotion.

It's been a wild and unforeseen career in student and faculty affairs, but I’ve enjoyed my time working for the college. I’m ready for the next phase of life.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Travel. My most recent milestone birthday trip of a lifetime to Cuba was canceled due to COVID. Instead, I spent my birthday two years later on a bus trip around the northern end of Ireland and, shortly after my birthday this year I’ll be moving to the island of Hawaii! Living in Hawaii has been a dream for several decades, and my wife and I decided to follow that dream upon my retirement this summer.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Snuggling in bed with my two small doggies after my alarm has gone off and I’m supposed to be getting ready for the day!

Thank you to Robyn for such an amazing career with CU Engineering! She has been absolutely instrumental in the creation and improvement of many collegewide policies and practices that benefit and support our faculty. The college wouldn't be the same without all of her dedication and hard work. The CEAS HR & Faculty Advancement team will miss her dearly.

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Luis Villalobos, Engineering Recruitment Senior Specialist

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:56:01 +0000

Luis Villalobos, Engineering Recruitment Senior Specialist Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/04/2024 - 15:56

Luis Villalobos is an alum of ��񱦵�, having earned his bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies. As the engineering recruitment senior specialist, Luis works to bring in the brightest and hardest-working young minds to CU engineering. Luis is an avid sports fan, rooting for every Colorado team, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Ariana, and their husky, Bandido.

What’s the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?

The best way for others to collaborate effectively with me is engaging in conversation. I am always open to conversation and seeing how we can work together. I love talking, whether it’s in-person, on Zoom or Teams — you can always find me.

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

One of my favorite traditions isn’t really a tradition — I just love Christmas. I am truly happiest during Christmas because it’s when I get to spend the most time with family and loved ones. Also, one of my love languages is gift-giving, so I love seeing others smile when I can give them something they want or need.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

I love watching sports. While this hobby can cause stress and lack of sleep, I love supporting all my Colorado teams. I love the competition, the player stories, and the platform that sports provide for athletes to help and better their communities.

What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?

Overseeing the college’s Engineering Ambassadors. They are wonderful students and are all amazing human beings! Getting to work with them and see them grow has been such a pleasure. They all bring a unique personality and background to the team and work so well together.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

Definitely Cuba. As an undergrad I had the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba for one summer, and it was an incredible experience. Every single person I met was extremely welcoming and open to conversation, the buildings and cars were beautiful, and the food was delicious. It felt like traveling back in time to the ’50s with the old architecture and classic cars everywhere.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Trips to Disney … World and land. Over the last few years, my wife and I have gone to Disney World and Disneyland several times. We got engaged at Disney World and went to Disneyland for our one-year wedding anniversary. Yes, we are Disney adults.

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Meredith Canode, Senior Director of Graduate Programs

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:19:07 +0000

Meredith Canode, Senior Director of Graduate Programs Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/05/2024 - 15:19

After bouncing through North Carolina and Japan (Marine Corps JAG attorney father) I grew up in the DC Metro area, did undergrad at CSU, and was fortunate to linger in New England for nearly 20 years as both a lifeguard in the summers and then a year-round resident after college, where my love of seafood, surfing, and oceans took root. I’ve worked for NSF, WHOI, BU, MIT and now ��񱦵� and feel very fortunate to have done so. I am thankful for my southern transplant husband and our native Coloradan 4-year-old son, as well as our two ridiculous but wonderful dogs. My years at ��񱦵� have flown by, and I can only attribute that to how wonderful it’s been!

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to the college?

I was offered the job in December 2017, with a start date for March 1, 2018. My birthday fell in-between. In that time between, I received a birthday message along with a photograph from my future boss (the wonderful Ken Anderson, then associate dean for education) of my nameplate on the door telling me how excited they were for me to get started. I thought that was such a lovely gesture.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Every morning after I walk our dogs, I sit in front of our fire with them. Even just five minutes is a great way to start the day. Dogs deserve all the good things, so I like to lean into that.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

Toss up between:

“If two people agree on everything, then one of them is unnecessary” (which reminds me that counterpoints of view are invaluable to making sure the best idea moves things forward, and that compromise is essential in everything)
“Maybe everyone is just doing the best that they can” (I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume good intentions. I think often ego can get tied to work, and ‘there be dragons’ that way. And sometimes folks just have a bad day, or they’re coming from a defensive place because their history has baked that into them – I think there’s always a path forward and that everyone just wants to be heard and respected)

What do you most like to do to unwind?

Swimming laps. Swimming requires you to focus on breathing, and nobody can talk to you then, and you can’t hear anything beyond your own breathing. I never had the patience for meditation (probably means I need it, ha!) but swimming is a meditative practice for me, probably for the same reasons. Also, I can do it until I’m 90.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I completed surf rescue school at the National Seashore in Cape Cod in another life.

One thing you’re willing to spend way too much on . . .

Travel. I don’t care about jewelry or technology/electronics whatsoever. If I didn’t have a husband in IT I’d probably still have a flip phone and a tube TV, but I love a great new experience for the memory bank.

What is your guilty pleasure?

True crime podcasts on the commute, ones where they aren’t casual with the seriousness of the crime (don’t like when they make jokes about tragedy) and there’s a resolution to the case. Hate the violence, but I like the interviews with tough old cops and DAs where hard work, collaboration, and dogged determination, and often scientific evidence equals an arrest. I think it appeals to me from a scientific and organizational perspective, and given my Dad was an attorney I think there must be something genetic to my finding interest in police procedural type stories.

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Grace Burleson, Assistant Professor, Rady Mechanical Engineering

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:14:24 +0000

Grace Burleson, Assistant Professor, Rady Mechanical Engineering Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/08/2024 - 15:14

I am a multi-disciplinary researcher focused on engineering design methods for social impact and sustainable development applications: I am passionate about improving design practices for the benefit of humanity! I am a new incoming assistant professor in mechanical engineering (starting this month), and currently on a visiting appointment. I recently completed my PhD in design science from the University of Michigan and I also hold a dual MS in mechanical engineering and applied anthropology from Oregon State University.

What have been some meaningful ways in which you have felt welcomed to CEAS?

I have really enjoyed all my interactions with faculty members, particularly with folks in the mechanical engineering department who are very supportive and enthusiastic about continuing to advance engineering inclusion and social impact outcomes.

What is a motto or quote that you hold dear and why?

I appreciate the quote by architect Cedric Price: “Technology is the answer. But what was the question?” As engineers and designers, we often jump too quickly into solutions — we really need to slow down and understand the true problems we are attempting to solve. We need to go beyond creating the most “innovative” product for individual users, and look more broadly at the communities impacted by our design work (both positively or negatively). By deepening our engagement and understanding of individual and collective needs, we can continue to expand our objectives to prioritize our individual, social, and environmental well-being.

How do you enjoy practicing self-care and/or community care?

I love going on walks or hikes and connecting with my friends and family (either in person, or on the phone). Being new to the area, my husband and I also enjoy trying new restaurants in the Boulder and Denver area!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

I love visiting New York City — I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing organizations based in Manhattan, and I always enjoy visiting and exploring such a massive city! NYC has an energy and vibrancy that is hard to describe, and it is filled with so many diverse communities, making it an amazing place to experience new foods, art, and cultures.

Which TV show do you never miss?

Saturday Night Live – I absolutely love comedy and sketch shows!

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

I appreciate the work by David Brooks, who advocates for developing what he calls “eulogy virtues” in addition to just “resume virtues.” Resume virtues are the skills and experiences that bring value to your work and occupation. On the other hand, eulogy virtues are the ones that are shared at your funeral — how you served your community, the relationships you built, the kindness you spread, the higher purposes you worked towards, and the faith you carried. Academic institutions emphasize building resume virtues, the best advice I’ve received is to continue to develop and deepen your “eulogy virtues” throughout college and throughout the rest of your career and life.

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Dorothy Noble, Laboratory Manager & Senior Professional Research Assistant

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:18:35 +0000

Dorothy Noble, Laboratory Manager & Senior Professional Research Assistant Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/05/2023 - 09:18

My name is Dorothy, and I have been working in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering since 2008, first as a PRA in Scott Summers’ lab, while I pursued a master’s degree, and since 2016 as the lab manager/senior PRA for the Environmental Engineering Program.

In my time at CU, I’ve been involved in many research projects and have helped a lot of students through the lab. It’s always bittersweet when they graduate. My main area of research interest is water quality, especially drinking water quality and disinfection by-product formation.

I have three kids; two are in college and one plays professional soccer in Europe. I love to hike, ski, snowshoe, paddleboard – basically I love to do anything outside. This summer I completed the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), an 80+ mile hike through France, Italy and Switzerland, and I absolutely loved it!

Describe one of your favorite traditions.

Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with my family.

What is an ordinary moment in your life that brings you joy?

Every time I sit on the couch, my dog Chico lays on the couch next to me with his head either on my lap or touching my leg.

What do you most like to do to unwind?

I walk the dogs or have a glass of wine with a friend.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

The TMB trek because it was challenging, the views were breathtaking, and I got to do it with a bunch of my friends.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I like to lift weights, kickbox and do yoga.

What is one thing you’re willing to spend way too much on?

Travel!

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