"Without using the title of your job, tell me what you do." Interim president Rick Muma and more than a dozen others replied to the icebreaker I shared last month. Some of you were succinct, while others were longer or included a bit of personality or humor.
Using our skills to help and support others is the predominant theme. Did the responses to the icebreaker exercise help you learn more about anyone?
What You Do
"I serve as the university's chief executive officer. Part of my job is to evaluate how the organization is operating and makes changes accordingly for the better."
John Jones, Director of Media Resources Center
"I play the role of facilitator and navigator for five teams of professionals who support faculty in their interactions with students and technology. The teams I support help with course design, media production, technology, and accessibility. I make sure the teams have what they need and understand the priorities and goals for their work while representing those teams to upper administration and the broader campus community."
Carolyn Speer, Manager of Instructional Design and Access
"I solve problems and help other people solve problems."
Carolyn leads the Instructional Design and Technology Team in the Media Resources Center. This 90-second video provides a concise representation of her prowess.
If two people can fall in love online, they can learn American history online.
Carolyn Speer, PhD, Wichita State University
Ellen Abbey, Director of Auxiliary Services
"My nameplate says that I am the Chaos Coordinator. I would say that is a pretty true statement. My people say that I lay awake at night trying to come up with more work for them to do. I'm sure they love it!
"This is what I do. I am the idea person, trying to expand our offerings. I try to keep peace among the poor souls that work for me. I do the things that no one else has time to do. I have to know everything that all my staff knows, plus everything they should know. It feels like I mostly answer emails and telephone calls. Most days I feel like I need a whip and chair. I love being the Chaos Coordinator!"
Robyn Bongartz, Director of Student and Accounts Receivable Fiscal Operations
"I am a mentor eager to support fellow people from direct reports to partners across campus. I wear many hats and spin a lot of plates that range from developing effective job coaching to efficient processes to understanding cash handling and policies of our university, state, and feds to collecting university debts fairly."
Clarice Maseberg, Accounts Receivable Manager
"I help departments and groups take payments."
Gina Crabtree, University Registrar
"I assist university students, faculty, and staff with various aspects of scheduling, registration, official records, curriculum management, and compliance. This involves a lot of systems and processes as well as interpersonal collaboration and creative problem-solving."
Julie Brin, Executive Administrative Assistant to the General Manager of KMUW
"I use my organizational and communication skills and attention to detail to help our department do everything from fundraising to meeting compliance requirements. My actual list of duties is long, tedious, and boring to others - but not to me because I'm easily entertained!"
Nancy Loosle, Assistant Dean of Students
"I work with students to provide them opportunities to develop lifelong and adulting skills that can be utilized in all aspects of their life. This is done in a supportive environment where failure and growth is allowed to happen."
Aaron Austin, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
"I support students’ growth, development, and success outside the classroom to allow them to grow, develop, and succeed in the classroom."
Jan Hudson, Academic Affairs Budget Analyst
"I process, audit, and report department fund activity and budget impact. Recommend, communicate, and provide training for best practices for budget admin in departments within Academic Affairs. Forecast provost funding commitments and revenue changes, and play well with others!"
Amy Delgado, Associate Director - Sponsored Research Accounting
"I oversee the administration of grants from the research department by assisting on-campus and off-campus faculty and staff with any questions. From payroll to accounts payable, accounts receivable, and reporting to sponsors and faculty. I resolve unexpected issues within my role and support other departments throughout the university."
Fran Cook, Senior Grants / Contracts Administrator and Training Manager
"I help WSU faculty and staff apply for funding to support their research interests."
Jessica Walles, Telecommunications Business Manager
"I lead our division’s operations and perform a range of tasks to ensure our productivity and efficiency. I implement business strategies, create goals and objectives, and ensure resources to do our jobs effectively. Part of my role also involves financial management, project management and networking with other departments on our behalf."
Jeanne Patton, Director of ITS Business and Finance Operations
"I process all ITS purchases, prepare accounts payables for processing through financial operations and the reconciliation of all credit card purchases for ITS. I sit on several committees involving ITS policies and procedures and oversee the budget for all ITS organizations, including Telecommunications."
Chris Cavanaugh, Director of Internal Audit
As an icebreaker of my own, I once asked the Regents audit committee to explain the work of internal auditors. Their responses included: finding or preventing screw-ups, assessing risk, reviewing controls and processes, looking for efficiencies, and verifying compliance.
These are all true. For our current icebreaker exercise, I boiled their comments down to this:
"I help others dig deeper into potential problem areas to make them better."
Drop me a line if you missed the initial call for icebreakers and would like to add yours to the list.
That's what Teneisha McKinney did. Teneisha joined WSU last fall as the Director of Operations for the Division of Military, Veterans, and First Responders. Teneisha shares how her role as an "assistant coach" helps others achieve success.
Teneisha McKinney, Director of Operations - Military, Veterans, and First Responders
I'm your favorite sports team's "Assistant Coach." Similar to Assistant Coaches in successful athletic programs, I have a pulse on what goes on in most areas and work very closely with my Head Coach. In this example, my Head Coach is the Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, and my immediate supervisor. As the Assistant Coach, I manage the daily operations of our division and serve as the liaison for multiple departments, committees, and community partners. This position includes filtering or sorting requests and tasks and aiding in securing healthy resolution. My ability to be objective and stay calm in intense situations grants me the space to assist in making ethical and critical decisions. I am required to assist with our division's budget and finances, along with proxy privileges. Often times, I am even the first voice of response on behalf of my Head Coach. My ultimate goal in the game is to ensure a clear path to our division's wins and proper strategies to recover from losses. The success of our diverse student population, stakeholders groups, administration, and public servants are all functions that I directly and indirectly assist with.