Q1. How did you decide to enter the education field? Was there a specific reason that you decided to do marketing for schools?

Yes, [I entered the education field] because I had some really positive educational experiences throughout my life. For example, I love going to events from my independent high school in Boston, and I’ve served on the annual fund executive committee for Middlebury and Dartmouth. So I always feel like I’ve enjoyed giving back my time in that way. 

Before coming to Govs, I basically marketed $3 dish liquid and toothpaste. While I absolutely loved that work, I felt like I wanted to find a bit more meaning in my job. So when I had my second child, I moved to work at Govs. I can do what I love in terms of brand management and marketing, but I also work at a school that is mission-based here.

Were there any specific role models that inspired you along the way?

Yes! One of them was Mr. Hall, who was my advisor in high school. He had a way about him that made his math classes fun. When I had him for my advisor, I checked in with him often and he gave me great advice in terms of who to reach out to for help. 

The other one was my high school softball coach, Mrs. Chase. She was the assistant director of athletics, and what she did was she really created this sense of community. I think she also did a great job of promoting student leadership, and that definitely taught me lessons in terms of leading peers. 

Q2. What does your day-to-day job include, and what do you find particularly meaningful?

This sounds pretty cliche, but no day is really the same for me. A lot of the work that my team and I do is related to where we are in the school year. For example, we are working with an agency for marketing materials, running social media accounts, and editing the campaign newsletter and the governor’s call. I also work with Dr. Quimby on his speaking engagements, and particularly right now we are preparing commencement materials. 

Q3. How has your experience as a female faculty at Govs been? 

I would say it’s really been positive. That comes from the leadership of the school. I feel like my experience, my skills, and my voice matter here, and Dr. Quimby really in instills that in the members of his team.

I do feel like one of the big changes for me in coming to work at a school was there’s a bigger gender balance. When I was in the corporate world, I was outnumbered, and it feels really different. 

Are there times when I feel like someone is mansplaining to me occasionally still? Yes, absolutely. But I feel like that’s built into our society. 

Q4. Do you think female leadership is important in Education?

Yeah, I absolutely think it is, but I also think having diverse points of view in a meeting is important. When we’re thinking about bringing a school community together, we need to solicit voices from people from different racial backgrounds, different socioeconomic backgrounds to find a program that can be welcoming to all.

Q5. What changes do you wish to see in either the education field or the marketing field in the future?

That’s a good question. When I think about the evolution of my functional area particularly, I think there is some great innovation happening at Govs, and it is my job to share that innovation with people who have come to Govs before us. Whether that be former faculty, alumni, or past parents, it’s about communicating how Govs is still a wonderful place, but there are things that we’re constantly doing to make it better. And we owe that to the students here.

While I’m not the one designing curriculum or residential life programs, my job is to explain that to people. And that is definitely a change I am excited about in the education field.