Explain your career path

Started as a private investigator which then transitioned into an Assistant Store Manager job (more pay) at a major department store on the east coast. I then started a family and took 5 years off of work and then volunteered at my daughter’s school and started back to work at a Hallmark store in Carbondale, IL. Because of my volunteer work with the book fairs and my retail experience, Scholastic offered me a part time field position that later turned into full time and then was offered the catalog position on top of that.

What was your major at Southeast and how would you characterize the quality of that program to prospective students?

Criminal justice/law enforcement-I chose this because, at the time, it was the only field that interested me. I knew I didn’t want a desk job and I wanted to be active in the community.

Why did you choose to attend Southeast?

My grandfather and father graduated from here and I could live with my grandparents while attending school.

If you were in Greek Life, the Honors Program or any other student organization, please tell us about that experience and how it impacted you.

Bringing my Scholastic region to the number 1 position in Catalog sales.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at Southeast?

If you are interested in something other than your major, try it out.

Describe Southeast in three words.

Beautiful, progressive, diverse

What advice would you give current students or recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?

Treat others with respect and how you would like to be treated no matter what. It’s hard but you don’t know what the other person is going through...and listen not just with your ears but with your eyes.