Current position:
Senior IT Analyst, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Responsibilities:
Program Manager, Service Excellence, U.S. Public Sector
Degree:
Bachelor’s Degree in Management
Where did you live as a student?
Smith Residence Hall
Favorite class you took at Hood?
‘Death and Dying’ with Professor Dana Cable (I felt fortunate to experience this class, offered by an esteemed author; I still have the two books that we read in class on my bookshelf.)
How did your experience at Hood influence or shape your career today?
Attending Hood provided me with a wide array of experiences and opened my eyes to the world outside the small town in which I grew up. After graduating from Hood, I lived in Frederick for years (loved it and will forever miss it) and eventually made my way to Bethesda to live closer to my job. Starting my IT career in the DC metro area, which my Hood experience propelled me to do, set the stage for what I do today.
What made you decide to attend Hood?
My high school counselor mentioned Hood as a possibility as my interest was in a small school rather than a larger university that so many of my friends were planning to attend. One visit to the Hood campus, and I was convinced. My cousin Laura Lee Hickman ’75 and her mother Sally West Hickman ’49, P’75 also attended Hood. I have many fond memories of spending time in Frederick with them, both during my Hood years and after.
What is your fondest memory of your time at Hood?
I met some great, lifelong friends at Hood. When you share four very concentrated years living closely with others and sharing similar experiences, you end up with a bond that lasts forever, even if you don’t see them as often as you’d like. Another fond memory that stands out for me is the rich tradition of Hood. Right out of the gate, I recall being awakened in the middle of the night to head out to the quad. That was the first time I heard the ‘nun song,’ and I knew at that moment that the experience was going to be great.
Hood in one word?
Memorable
What did you do in the year immediately after graduating?
I worked in a toy store in Frederick for about six months, then landed upon a direct mail/marketing job in Georgetown.
Most successful moment or experience?
Merging career with personal, I would say being able to return to my hometown, retain my IT job, and work out of my home has probably been my most successful experience.
Stranded on an island, what three things are you sure to have with you?
Tent, fishing pole, fire starter
Advice to current Hood students?
I would recommend taking advantage of internship opportunities that could open a door to your first post-graduation job. I had two great internships during my senior year at Hood, and I wish I had tapped into those experiences a little quicker than I did for my own career. I admittedly bumped around multiple jobs for the first few years after graduation (while having a lot of fun—arguably too much), and finally landed a job at the National Geographic Society where I worked toward my first job in IT. Once you have an internship or your first job, cultivate a sponsor or mentor and work as hard as you can. Don’t expect to start at the top. Work hard where you land and chances are likely you’ll be rewarded for it.
