Q: Can you describe the work you do at the University of Chicago?

As the Director of Professional Development Programs within the University of Chicago’s Professional Education unit, UChicago Professional (UCP), I oversee a portfolio of certificate programs and standalone courses. My work bridges program development and administration across a diverse range of offerings from noncredit certificates in "Editing" and "Medical Writing and Editing Training" to specialized courses such as "Quantum Science Networking & Communications."

As a team, we support the instructional work of industry experts, ensuring our courses deliver the rigor and professional relevance our students seek to advance or reorient their careers. 

Our community of learners deeply values opportunities offered through continuing education and professional connection. They’re eager to engage with us both in and out of the classroom through a variety of learning experiences. Designing and delivering webinars, career-focused events, networking opportunities, and other resources is also central to how we support their professional growth. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced environment that continually challenges us to adapt to industry shifts.

Q: What led you to your current role? 

From teaching psychology and French early in my career, to later embracing roles in student support, curriculum design, and program administration, I’ve been fortunate to experience many facets of higher education. Over time, I’ve become increasingly interested in the full cycle of program management, from development and launch to administration, and the creation of student support services designed to foster engagement beyond program completion. 

There’s also an aspect of creativity in building programs with surrounding support services. It invites a reflection on what defines a meaningful student journey where learning translates into tangible growth. It’s an ongoing exercise in calibration that’s never static.

In professional education, things move rather quickly. That pace suited me well and made my transition into my current role an exciting career move. Having the chance to do that at the University of Chicago was a stimulating opportunity given the caliber of the environment and the remarkable student segment we serve.

Q: How long have you been in your role and how has your role changed since you started?

I’ve been with UChicago for ten years and in my current role for seven. What began as coordinating programs and student services has evolved over time into developing program portfolios with stackable pathways to deepen professional readiness and expertise. More recently, my focus has included streamlining systems and processes across multiple platforms to enhance efficiency and scalability.

Navigating these shifts, first through a global pandemic and now amid the wave of disruptions and opportunities created by AI, has been invigorating. I mean it. We have to be in tune with how the world is transforming and be more adaptable than ever. It comes with an unprecedented learning curve. A great deal has changed since I first joined the University: strategic planning, the pace of curriculum updates, student services, marketing strategies—everything has been impacted in accelerated ways. 

Ensuring that our programs remain both academically rigorous and professionally relevant is an ever-evolving pursuit. It’s about offering skills that sustain us—individually and collectively—while cultivating the ability to integrate them meaningfully. Above all, it’s about embracing adaptability as a defining strength in this era of rapid transformation.

Q: What motivates you to invest so much care into UChicago Professional?

My background is in psychology, and that’s where my passion lies—understanding our capacity to adapt and transform amid an accelerating pace of change, and how this shapes behavior and societal shifts. In this post-pandemic, fast-evolving tech era, I believe professional education is, more than ever, an incredible outlet for transformation, and we’re just scratching the surface of new possibilities. It is such an interesting time of transition on so many levels—the job market being one of the most rapidly impacted. 

Meaningful skill development and integration are essential, and so is the ability to remain grounded in a world that is quickly shifting. Because of my background in psychology and through my role and experience, I feel that I have an opportunity to be an active part of this conversation, and I hope I can be of service. I trust that our programs and community offer students an environment that nurtures healthy transformation, supports mindful professional growth, and connects our learners to new and impactful professional pathways.

Q: What is a memorable experience you’ve had during your time at the University?

While I was aware of the University of Chicago’s reputation when I first joined, I didn’t yet have a practical sense of what that meant. That changed when I began meeting our instructors and students and started conducting classroom observations. 

To this day, I clearly remember my first observation of an in-person editing class. I didn’t know much about the world of editing at the time, and I was in for quite a surprise. I watched a group of about twenty students engage in an impassioned thirty-minute debate over the placement of commas in a sentence and how it altered its meaning. While the instructor skillfully guided the discussion, students kept immersing themselves deeper in the moment, reveling in the opportunity to connect around something they loved. I felt as though I was witnessing something sacred—an act of devotion to the highest standards of written language that I had not been initiated into. I remember smiling and thinking, this isn’t just a class; it’s a soul family. These perfect strangers had somehow found each other and were celebrating some sort of homecoming. Even the energy in the room had shifted. It is something you don’t often see in a classroom, and I thought, well, that must be UChicago.

Q: You’ve had a great impact on the University. How has the University of Chicago impacted you?

Through a myriad of moments like the one I just described, UChicago has made me consider new ways to approach specific situations and act with greater care, precision, and intention. The culture here has also encouraged me to use my voice, even in intimidating settings, to share what I believe matters when invited to the table. Along the way, I’ve discovered aspects of myself I hadn’t previously encountered, learning when to give myself a pat on the shoulder and when to pause and recalibrate.

I’ve had the privilege of working with wonderfully unique colleagues who’ve shown me that growth takes many forms—to recognize and release self-limiting beliefs, to celebrate successes, and to value failures just as much. Through my work with instructors, I’ve come to appreciate their expertise, dedication, and the energy they bring to creating deeply engaging and thought-provoking classroom experiences. The University has impacted me in many unexpected ways and supported my own professional growth.

Q: Beyond your role at the University, how else do you like to spend your time?

I’m fascinated by the intersection of science and spirituality, and tools that support wellness—among them breathwork and meditation, which have been incredibly beneficial to me. More recently, painting has become another form of practice, from finding a theme to visualizing it, giving it form and life, and knowing when it’s complete. It’s quite an exercise, full of surprises with each painting.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our UChicago community, such as a fun fact about yourself or a personal project? 

I grew up in the French countryside surrounded by nature and with parents who talked to and cared for trees and plants with much love. I used to find it amusing and oddly sweet. I now live in a condo in downtown Chicago that’s slowly starting to resemble my parents’ garden. And yes, I talk to my plants. I can’t help it. It may be that soul family thing—whether it’s editing, houseplant keeping, or whatever you’re drawn to—it’s the nurturing that comes with finding your happy place and bonding with its creatures.