Talking Stick - March/April 2009 - 60

snapsHot KaTe Baier I TRy To AppRoAcH EVERy pRofESSIoNAL DEVELopMENT SESSIoN wITH THE MINDSET THAT I’M goINg To gAIN AT LEAST oNE INSIgHT. What’s the first thing you do when you get into the office each morning? Say “hello” to my colleagues and turn on my computer. I have my electronics plugged into Smart Strips, so turning on my computer also powers up my lights, printer, etc. What’s the biggest issue you see facing the profession right now? I would have to call the economy on this one, too. How can we maximize our efforts in order to do all that is asked of us while being good stewards and university citizens? What makes your campus unique? We are a university “in and of” New York City. We have no designated campus, so our university community mingles with the millions of New Yorkers in lower Manhattan. What resource can’t you live without? The professional staff and faculty affiliated with NYU’s Department of Residential Education. I’m also pretty fond of my Blackberry. What made you decide to work in housing? If you hadn’t chosen housing, what would your job be? I got hooked as an RA at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. I had recently decided I didn’t want to be an English teacher, so it seemed like a good alternative. If this wasn’t my profession, this week I think I’d like to be a veterinarian. Or a statistician. Or a stay-at-home mom. When was the last time you awoke to a phone call from work in the middle of the night? Saturday, September 20, 2008. 0 Talking STick What do you wish was different about your job? I think there are probably things in all jobs that one could do without. But, that said, I happily take the lumps of my current job. If considered as an exchange for the opportunities I’ve received and the life it affords me in the greatest city in the world, I think I truly come out ahead. New social technology like texting and Facebook: Good or evil? Good I think. Best speaker/book you’ve been impressed by? I try to approach every professional development session with the mindset that I’m going to gain at least one insight. If I were to select one, I would say conversations with Joe Salvatore, a faculty member at NYU. We’ve engaged in an ongoing conversation about creating opportunities for and measuring learning. Our talks have transformed how I approach my work. Last meal at a campus dining hall? Yesterday. Name the individuals who made the greatest impact on your career. My first professional position was at Ball State University, and the leadership there – specifically, Alan Hargrave and Cathy Bickel -– had a tremendous impact on my professional life. Favorite campus traditions? NYU’s residence hall government organization produces a number of really exciting events every year. But my favorite is Ultra Violet Live, which is an all-campus talent show. NYU students have amazing talent. kate baier is director of residential education at New York University in New York City. Who would you like to see featured in Snapshot? Send your suggestions to camille@acuho-i.org.

Talking Stick - March/April 2009

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