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Things to do
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photo provided by Ken Buschner
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Personal: 49 of Pittsford; married with a son, Taylor, 19, who is a sophomore at MCC, and a daughter, Mackenzie, 17, who is a senior at Mendon High School.
Occupation: Vice President for Student Services at Monroe Community College.
Community activities: President, Ronald McDonald House Charities Board of Directors; member, N.T.I.D. National Advisory Group.
My favorite thing to do in Rochester: I love teaching spinning (cycling) classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It's something I have been doing for more than eight years. I enjoy watching others recognize their strength and set individual goals. Teaching has always been my outlet; prior to spinning, I taught body sculpting, aerobics and step classes.
Biggest challenge I’ve overcome and how I did it: Nothing has been as challenging as working full-time at M.C.C., raising two young children and completing my dissertation for my doctorate from The University of Michigan at the same time. My husband was my saving grace with our children. He would take them so many places to give me quiet time in the house as well as to try to explain why mom was always so busy. Every night, I faced the same question: “Are you done yet, mommy?” In my dissertation acknowledgment section, my last paragraph reads: “Yet, my greatest accomplishments in life have been the births of my two children, Taylor and Mackenzie. They are my pride and joy. I recognize how much time I spent away from them to think and write in solitude. I thank them both for their patience and understanding. Mommy is finally done.” That was in 1996; the challenge and the support I felt are still very vivid to me.
One thing I’ve always wanted to do but never have: Study with a chef in Florence or Sicily. I would watch his or her every movement to create the most delicious Italian dish.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be: I’d like to be able to speak multiple languages. I am amazed by individuals who can speak more than their native language. I encounter many M.C.C. students whose native language is not English, yet they know two to three languages besides their native language. I would settle for at least knowing one!
The talent I would most like to have: To sing. What a gift it is to sing. I believe music blends all human beings. It is a neutralizer. Song/melody/lyric connects total strangers. I wish I could be part of that peace making process.
The one thing I can’t live without: Loyal friends.
The song that best describes my life: "Mack the Knife". It doesn’t represent my life per se, however, it represents the spirit of who I am. I was raised Irish Italian. At my mom’s family events, we always danced and danced with a purpose. My mom’s brothers knew how to dance to Big Band music (as well as other types) and I would dance my heart out with my uncles. They were incredible dancers. At my wedding, my mother-daughter song was “Mack the Knife”.
One of my favorite sayings is: Carpe Diem. No matter what I am doing for a living this is my life’s philosophy.
Actress I’d like to portray me in a movie about my life: Sandra Bullock.
