Hometown: Owatonna, a small town in the heart of southern Minnesota. Since graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul, I have remained a resident of the Twin Cities. 

When did you become a member of UMRA? In 2004. As I was retiring from University Relations, my supervisor asked if I would be interested in freelance work; UMRA president John Howe was looking for an editor for the organization's newsletter. Long story short, I joined UMRA, and my work with the UMRA newsletter and other communications continued for 15 years.

What was your very first job? My first summer during college I was a counselor at Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester. When I came of age to serve alcohol, my summer job was waitressing at Jerry's Supper Club in Owatonna. Both jobs were very educational!

What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? Senior editor and project manager in University Relations. I worked in publications and marketing and produced everything from commencement booklets to event invitations and campus maps, historical markers for the U's Sesquicentennial, University annual reports, and honorary degree citations. I was also the "expert" for anyone who called about the U Style Manual and proper use of the University wordmark and Goldy Gopher. I learned not to be surprised by questions like, "Can we put Goldy on a cake?" but I was surprised when someone wanted to put Goldy on a cemetery headstone for a U of M sports enthusiast.

Do you have a favorite place on the U of M campus? Back in the day, my favorite inside spots were the sunny windows of the Campus Club and the Weisman Art Museum. And summer lunch times were always special on Northrop Plaza and the Mall. 

What is a fun fact about you we might not know? After my son Mark was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 months, I started a support group for parents of youngsters with diabetes. Our group soon evolved into an organization to raise funds for diabetes research. We were fearless in those days and even had the audacity to wake Dr. Charles Best in Toronto with a phone call, inviting him to speak at our first research awards banquet. And he came! (Dr. Best was then the only surviving member of the team that discovered insulin in 1921.) Over 20 years we raised more than a million dollars and supported many of the U's research efforts.

What is something you currently enjoy doing with your time? Traveling, especially in winter. Reading for pleasure and discussions in two book clubs. Having a camera on my phone is endlessly amusing, and I attend the UMRA photography group whenever schedules allow.