Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas. I am a fourth-generation Texan on my father’s side.

When did you join UMRA? Immediately upon retirement, in March 2023.

What was your very first job? As a senior in high school in Rota, Spain, I worked as a library aide in the armed forces library on the U.S. Naval Base. Along with two other aides, we produced a weekly radio program for kids promoting reading.

What drew you to the University of Minnesota? I first came to the University as a graduate student in the 1970s. Then, much later, when I lost my job in the presidential transition at St. Catherine University, I applied to work at the University and was hired as the assistant to the director of student unions. 

What was your role when you retired from the U of M? As the assistant dean of curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts, I provided curricular leadership and oversight for the 31 departments in the college (approximately 13,500 undergraduates, 68 majors, and 74 minors). I collaborated on a broad range of college and campus-wide initiatives around curriculum development, and the design, implementation, and review of policies, practices, and programs. I also led the collegiate initiatives for student recruitment and developed creative strategies for increased retention and graduation. I loved that my job was different every single day.

Do you have a favorite place on campus? Yes, I do! I have always loved Walter Library. My office in Johnston Hall overlooked the Walter Library windows and whenever I needed space to think, I would scurry over to the library and sit on one of the benches. If I was lucky, the Arthur Upson room might be open, and I could sit and admire all the beautiful furnishings, art, and books housed in that space.

Who or what sparked your interest in promoting learning abroad experiences for students? Because I went to college abroad in Sevilla, Spain, I had an affinity for learning abroad. Martha Johnson, who was the assistant dean for learning abroad at the time, heard about my experiences on the Camino de Santiago [trail] and invited me to lunch to see if I would be interested in teaching a course and taking students to Spain. I thought it was a terrible idea. But Martha was persistent, and I am so glad she was because taking students abroad became one of the highlights of my career. And now, in retirement, I am still consulting with colleges and universities about learning abroad experiences for students in Madrid and Toledo, Spain, through the Fundación José Ortega y Gasset-Gregorio Marañón.

You have hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain more than 30 times! Why? I hiked my first Camino in April 1996. I was drawn to the Camino because I needed time and space to think. The Camino proved to be exactly the experience I was looking for, and I couldn’t wait to go back. I’ve now completed nearly 40 Caminos, and I don’t really know the answer about why, except that I love to share the experience with others and to see the Camino through their eyes. Every hike is different, and I never know who I will meet or what exactly will happen, but it’s always been tremendously rewarding. 

I have a group going next June. I’m super excited, and I still have a couple of spaces left if anyone would like to join me!

If you were competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics, what would you like your sport to be? I am actually a very good shot, so I would like to compete in the biathlon which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

What is a fun fact about you that we might not know? I was a debater in high school, and in 1971 I attended a debate tournament in Munich, Germany. At the end of the tournament, a group of us went to a tiny club downtown to see a “crazy” singer who wore wild outfits, big glasses, and jumped on his piano. It was Elton John just before his release of Crocodile Rock, which of course became a huge hit. We were some of the first to hear it performed live, and it did not disappoint.