About

Team

My role with GNSI is the latest in a long USF career. As the Administrative Director for our group, I supervise all day-to-day aspects of GNSI, prepare and manage the budget and act as the principal interlocutor with Human Resources on personnel actions. My position touches nearly all aspects of the normal operating procedures for a university organization.

Previously, I've worked in the Office of the President at USF, managed the Patel Center for Global Solutions and the Lifesey House (the university president's house). I'm also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, having served for seven years, assigned to the Office of the Commandant at USCG Headquarters, where I was responsible for taskers and briefing material from the White House and the Department of Homeland Security.

Flash back to 10 years old: What did you want to be when you grew up?
That changed quite frequently. First, I wanted to be a teacher, then a writer and even Nancy Drew's sidekick for a while!

What's the most "interesting" thing you've done that not many people know about?
Not many folks know there are Adult Kickball leagues and I played on a Championship Team in the D.C. World Adult Kickball Association.

Favorite musician/genre of music?
I enjoy most music genres, but I love the 80's era! The Legwarmers are my favorite cover band experience.

Where are you originally from? What was your first job?
I moved to Florida when I was six years old so I am - as far as I'm concerned - a Floridian! My first job was at Walt Disney World.

What books are you currently reading?
Growing up I was obsessed with Nancy Drew books, so it's no surprise that I really enjoy suspense novels. I'm also a fan of true crime books and podcasts. 

What's your favorite sport, team, athlete or "thing" where you could be President of the Fan Club?
I love watching hockey. I cheer for the Washington Capitals and, of course, the Tampa Bay Lightning. USF's Club Hockey team is also a lot of fun to watch.

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...
Taking pictures. A lot of my weekend time is spent at the golf course shooting pictures of golf academy matches. My husband, Aaron, is the coach and I really enjoy following the players around the course and taking pics. They really love it when I show them a great photo of them.

When's your birthday?
May 6

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My role is to support General McKenzie with his day-to-day operations for both GNSI and Cyber Florida. This includes calendar management, coordinating travel logistics, coordinating meetings and interviews, preparing agendas, and other miscellaneous tasks. 

Previous to USF, I was an Executive Assistant for Refresco Beverages. I supported the VP of HR, VP of Operations, VP of Engineering, and VP of Supply Chain, along with their respective teams. I was also the office manager for an office of 300+ employees. Previous to that I was an Executive Assistant for Nestle Professional Beverages, supporting the VP of Marketing and the VP of our Cruise Ship Division, as well as their teams. 

Flash back to 10 years old: What did you want to be when you grew up?
At 10 years old I wanted to be a hair stylist. I was always playing with other people's hair. I would do the hair of my sister's cheerleading team, my family and friends, whether that meant braid, curl, style, blow dry, and even cut their hair.

What's the most "interesting" thing you've done that not many people know about?
N/A. I am pretty boring.

Favorite musician/genre of music?
I like all genres of music. It just depends on my mood. 

Where are you originally from? What was your first job?
I am originally from Tampa, FL. My first job was at McDonald's. 

What books are you currently reading?
I am not much of a reader. My brain is always going so I have a hard time concentrating and find that I need to re-read items because I lost focus. I would rather watch the movie.

What's your favorite sport, team, athlete or "thing" where you could be President of the Fan Club?
We are a baseball family since my boys have played their whole life, but I also love football. Of course the Tampa teams! I could be the president of the "If its scary or horror related I am in the "fan club."

Finish this sentence: On Sunday morning, you can usually find me ...
Cooking a big family breakfast.

When's your birthday?
July 28

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I'm responsible for day-to-day MarComms activities, telling the GNSI story and crafting the brand message to ensure we're all working toward our goal of becoming an internationally recognized leader in the global and national security space. My duties include content creation and copywriting for the website and social media, publication design, as well as media and public relations for GNSI. I work with our senior leadership to develop strategic communications and marketing plans, curating brand-relevant news and information that adds value to our audience, connecting with outside resources for potential partnerships or opportunities, event planning and speech writing.

My first position at the University of South Florida was in Research and Innovation, as Assistant Director, Marketing of the Technology Transfer Office. Prior to that, I spent 20+ years in leadership roles in marketing communications in manufacturing; the last 13 as the Director of Marketing Communications with a sporting goods brand. And, a lifetime ago, I was an on-air radio announcer, working at several stations in the St. Louis Metro Market, primarily as a sports pxp announcer and morning drive host.

Flashback to 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Oh that's easy! I was definitely going to be a major league baseball pitcher, hopefully with the St. Louis Cardinals and I was going to make a $100,000 salary before I was 30. 

What's the most "interesting" thing you've done that most people don't know about?
In that "other" lifetime, as part of a radio station promotion, I mud-wrestled against the Chicago Knockers at a demolition derby race. If you envision the Dewey Oxburger scene from the movie "Stripes," you'll be getting close.

Favorite musician/genre of music?
Jimmy Buffett. I'm a true Parrothead. But my go-to music genre is probably alternative/indie.

Where are you originally from? What was your first job?
Little town of 4000 people in Illinois - Breese. My first job was cutting grass. I mowed 10 lawns a week until I was 16.

What books are you currently reading?
"Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek. Re-reading "Linchpin" by Seth Godin. "Humans of New York" by Brandon Stanton. Oh, and the 2022-23 AP Stylebook, of course.

What's your favorite sport, team, athlete or "thing" where you could be President of the Fan Club?
St. Louis Blues NHL team. My blood type is definitely blue. LGB!

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings you can usually find me...
Listening to the Classic Show with John "U-Man" Ulett on KSHE 95. Started listening in the early 80's and haven't stopped, even now that I'm in Florida. 

When's your birthday?
June 2. The year is classified.

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I develop plans for a variety of Tampa GNS activities to include summits, conferences, speaker series, and outreach opportunities. I also supervise the execution of these events.  

Outside of events, I conduct studies and reviews past and current national security policies. I assist with the strategic planning and implementation for the Institute's education and publication programs to include its proposed one-year master's degree. 

Beyond that, I've served in the Army National Guard for over 15 years and plan to continue to do so. While in the Guard, I've deployed to Ukraine and Poland in 2021-2022, and the Horn of Africa in 2016-2017. I have served on multiple state activations in response to hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flashback to 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a writer and still plan on being one. Got a few outlines ready. Authors I draw inspiration from include: Hemingway, Kakfa, Fitzgerald, Samuel Johnson, Jane Austen, Jay McInerney, David Mamet, and Homer.

What's the most "interesting" thing you've done that not many people know about?
I conducted interviews for my master's thesis around Ukraine in 2014 and 2015. Over a couple trips to Ukraine, I spent time in Kyiv, Dnipro, Mariupol, Odessa, and several smaller towns. 

Favorite musician/genre of music?
Erik Satie, Classical and Jazz

Where are you originally from? What was your first job?
I am from a small town in Pennsylvania. My first job was a restaurant cook in an oyster bar.

What books are you currently reading?
"Ghost Fleet" by PW Singer and August Cole. "Napoleon" by Andrew Roberts. "Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman.

What's your favorite sport, team, athlete or "thing" where you could be President of the Fan Club?
I am a runner by trade. I am always ready to hit the bricks.

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me ...
The sun winks at me as it rises over the horizon. My hand anchors itself to the coffee cup resting on the lone cafe table situated in the middle of a mid-century Florida veranda. The black, bitter liquid compliments the sweet morning air. I reflect of the week past while looking to the week ahead.

When's your birthday?
March 30