Who We Are

What do you do at NIHTC?
I think of myself as a “learning curator.” My role is to ensure that valuable leadership and professional development experiences are available to all members of the NIH community.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
I am most proud of the implementation and launch of NIH’s Executive Leadership Program (ExLP). It is very rewarding to be on a project that started from a mere idea back in 2007 to now being embedded in NIH’s culture. The ExLP is the product of extensive research, benchmarking, and collaboration. Now in its 7^th year, the program is the best it’s ever been, thanks to feedback from participants and NIH advisors who are committed to ensuring the program’s long-term success. I am is also very proud of NIH’s Executive Coaching Program, which I helped to establish in 2005. Coaching is now very much a part of NIH’s leadership culture and I take great pride in these two initiatives.

What do you like most about your position?
My commitment to NIH’s scientific mission drives everything I do. When technically smart people have good leadership skills, and are happy, and engaged, that translates into exceptional performance on the job - to perform cutting edge research that leads to new discoveries that ultimately will help extend and save lives. There is no greater mission than the one we serve. That alone is motivating to me each day! My professional development course portfolio (approximately 25 leadership and professional development classes that YOU can register for) promotes continuous learning and growth, which help people become their best selves. I work to ensure that everyone is supported wherever they are in their careers, from entry level employees to IC Directors.

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
Travel is my passion! I have a deep appreciation for learning about people, different cultures, and most of all experiencing new cuisines. Yes, I am a foodie. Of all the places I have traveled to, Aruba (affectionately known as “One Happy Island”) is hands-down my favorite. I try to visit every year and have been going there since I was a child. Now my family also loves Aruba. I’m married to my college sweetheart and I have two children, an 18-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. I love listening to all types of music genres (from classical and rock to hip-hop and R&B.) Attending music concerts and dancing to music is my absolute favorite form of exercise.

How can I find out more about the leadership and professional development learning opportunities offered through NIHTC?
Please click on the links for detailed information about the NIH Executive Leadership Program, Executive & Team Coaching, and Professional Development Workshops.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am a Program Manager at the NIH Training Center. I manage ITAS, EHCM, FPS, Travel and several Professional Development classes. I also manage the Management Seminar Series program.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
Serving as the MSS Program Manager was been rewarding and exciting. I love helping the coordinators  and seeing the fruit of their labor in developing seminars for over 200 participants.

What do you like most about your position?
I enjoy managing the Management Seminar Series the most. I get to see the most engaging professional development of over 200 employees.

What hashtags describe you best?
#truthoverfeelings

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I started a podcast and picked up doing spoken word during the stay at home order. 

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am the LMS Functional Assistant on the NIH LMS Team. I work closely with the NIHTC to deliver Instructor-Led Training for our NIH LMS Administrators Training Program.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
Transitioning the NIH LMS Administrators Training Program from in-person Instructor-Led Training to virtually led Instructor-Led Training while still maintaining high levels of student satisfaction and engagement as reported in student evaluations.

What do you like most about your position?
Helping staff members master their use of the LMS. I love to see a student have a “light-bulb” moment while learning.

What hashtags describe you best?
#EngagingInstructor #CaringInstructor

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
My favorite month of the year is December, my favorite number is 7, I like peanut butter, but I don’t like peanut butter in any type of dessert, and I can sing a list of all of the English prepositions in alphabetical order to the tune of Pop Goes the Weasel.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I joined NIHTC in November, 2019 and I am now the Program Manager for the Management Intern Program (MIP).

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Christina and Minda to bring Barb’s vision for the Spotlight/Who We Are project to life. This initiative is a wonderful way for the NIH community to learn about the NIHTC team and their work behind the scenes and the Training Center.

What do you like most about your position?
I get to collaborate with so many smart, creative people who are passionate about their work, and learn something new every day here. Healthcare and scientific research are very dear to my heart, so I’m grateful to be part of NIH and supporting their mission. 

What hashtags describe you best?
#LifelongLearner #INFJ #TrustMeImALibrarian

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
In my spare time, I foster pups for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue! My dream is to one day launch a non-profit dedicated to rehabilitating and rehousing senior and special needs pets.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I’m the Technical Support Specialist here at the NIH Training Center. I’m responsible for supporting the technical aspects of the courses and programs that the training center delivers.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
One of my proudest moments here has been supporting the technical aspects of the move to White Flint from Rockledge. I had to implement different deployment strategies in order to meet certain deadlines. I had to use prioritization and sequencing skills that I developed during the move. I oversaw the setup of the classrooms’ computers, server configurations, and had to troubleshoot A/V issues. It all came together well, and we were able to reopen on time.

What do you like most about your position?
I like the variety of the projects that I work on here at the training center. I am a lifelong learner and being able to learn something new daily is what drives me. Being able to explain technical issues and successfully resolve problems in a timely manner makes me feel accomplished in my job.

What hashtags describe you best?
#pugDad #innovation #automation #pragmatist

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I enjoy playing golf, listening to music, hanging out with friends, working with computer software and hardware outside of work. An interesting fact about me is that I plan on moving to Europe one day in the distant future.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I manage a large portfolio of acquisition and budget classes for the Training Center as a Program Manager. I’ve worked for the NIHTC since 2014 and have seen a great deal of growth and expansion since that time. 

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
My proudest achievement is the deliverance of classes to provide college credit for the acquisition community a few years ago. I am also proud of growing the acquisitions portfolio to add new trainings such as Advanced COR Refresher and COR Refresher Plus and facilitating the continual improvement and enhancement of classes to include Introduction to the NIH Budget, NIH Property and NIH Purchase Card.

What do you like most about your position?
I truly love working with students to provide quality training to meet specific career goals. Many of the classes I manage are mandatory for designated roles within the acquisition community. I enjoy knowing that students receive such high-quality trainings. Students are valued as the NIHTC always strives to provide the essential skills and knowledge required. The NIHTC consistently exceeds student expectations and I am also very happy to work with such a dedicated group of consummate training professionals.

What hashtags describe you best?
#LearningNeverEnds #CarpeDiem #MakeitCount #GiveBack 

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I love to learn and embrace life through activities. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, fitness, bike riding, tennis, hiking and swimming. I coached youth soccer for many years and enjoy watching international soccer matches. Also love the beach, dogs, photography, music, concerts, plays, movies, podcasts, singing karaoke, astronomy, history, genealogical research and reading. I have played the piano since childhood. I’m currently learning how to play the ukulele and guitar and am writing some music. An interesting fact is that my husband and I adopted our two children from a Russian orphanage many years ago.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am the Deputy Project Manager at the NIH Training Center. My duties include answering phone calls, assisting training coordinators and program managers, helping students register for classes, and checking class rosters.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
Learning the ins and outs of the Learning Management System (LMS) to better assist students as the training coordinator of LMS classes.
 

What do you like most about your position?
I really enjoy meeting all the different levels of leadership and all the people who make NIH a great place to work.

What hashtags describe you best?
#CatMom #Foodie #HappyGoLucky
 

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I was born in California and moved to Maryland when I was young. This is my first time living outside of Baltimore. I especially enjoy living closer to D.C. which means I get to enjoy walking around Georgetown more often. I also enjoy hiking the C&O Canal and Great Falls Tavern.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I’m the NIHTC Director. In this capacity, I am responsible for all our programs and services, along with the multiple talented teams that manage them. I additionally teach writing workshops, occasionally facilitate strategic planning and MBTI sessions, and serve as a leadership coach.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
I’ve served in several roles at the Training Center since I started here, and I’ve been in an NIHTC leadership role for 10 years now, so it’s hard to pick just one! I am very proud of how we’ve expanded our training portfolio over the past decade, almost tripling the number of customers we now serve annually. Something that sticks with me is serving as a strategic driver behind our ever-expanding Continuum of Leadership Programs, including the launch of our successful Women in Leadership workshops and the conversion of the Management Seminar Series from an intern-focused seminar to a recognized program for almost 200 high-performing staff across NIH. Adding more individualized services to our leadership portfolio, I also spearheaded the launch of IDP Consulting and Leadership Coaching, which has broadened our customized reach to NIH staff at all levels. 

What do you like most about your position?
I love the enterprising component of the Training Center, which provides opportunities to pilot new offerings and see how the NIH community takes to them. I never get bored in my position, as it relies on a variety of skills. I treasure the strategic parts of my position, and I am grateful to work for a motivating mission with fantastic people who are dedicated to helping fellow NIHers. Finally, I enjoy the continual opportunity for all of us training and development practitioners to learn and develop ourselves in the field’s ever-changing landscape.

What hashtags describe you best?
#nightowl #strategicintuition #learningisthriving #somanyprojectssolittletime

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I am a creative person at heart and enjoy making and improving things – especially when using existing resources in a new way or converting a themed concept into tangible reality. My hobbies have always tended to center on the visual, language, or kinesthetic arts and they shift depending on my life stage (and degree of free time). Currently during the pandemic, I’m the arts and crafts/musical director for my 4-year-old at home with me! I have found that creative pursuits indirectly support my mindset at work; I think that strategic and creative skills both involve focusing on the future, but they use slightly different mental muscles and can work together to both temper and strengthen one another.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am the Deputy Director and I oversee the daily operations and marketing for the NIH Training Center.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
While I have many accomplishments that I’m proud of, the one that stands out the most is the successful move to the White Flint facility. We did this with no interruptions to our classes. It felt as though we were at Rockledge on one day and at White Flint the next!

What do you like most about your position?
I love being the Deputy Director at the NIHTC. I knew from the moment I read the job posting that this was the job for me. Four years later, I still feel the same way and no day is ever the same! I love the incredible team of professionals I work with, and to be part of the NIH community is the most rewarding part of my job.

What hashtags describe you best?
#positive #thehelper #enjoythejourney

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
Besides teaching Zumba to my colleagues, I love to cook and watch all Bravo shows. Something I rarely discuss, and probably should more often is that I was part of a crowd scene in an Adam Sandler movie – Anger Management. You probably can’t see me, there were over a thousand people, but it was a great experience.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am the web and graphic designer at the NIH Training Center. My responsibilities include maintaining and updating the NIHTC and DDM Seminar Series websites. I also design all the marketing materials for the training center.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
My proudest accomplishment would be collaborating with a team to assist with the transition of the Highlights newsletter to a completely digital platform and introducing fresh and modern approaches to the NIHTC brand. 

What do you like most about your position?
I’m someone that always enjoys learning new things, especially new software that expands on my design skills. I also like collaborating with my coworkers and other departments at NIH. I feel lucky to work for a wonderful organization and the incredible people who work here.

What hashtags describe you best?
#thorough #innovative #visionary 

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I love and feel inspired by the arts! I was once on an empty elevator in the middle of Times Square; where I was joined with the one and only, Toni Braxton. This later led to a contract with Def Jam records, a hand in designing her latest album art and my first ever Emmy Nomination. 

What do you do at NIHTC?
I have the incredible role of engaging bright, talented, passionate and mission-driven staff in a variety of programs to facilitate their individual professional development goals. I manage the Mid-level Leadership Program; I am an Internal Leadership Coach; I deliver Individual Development Plan (IDP) workshops; I provide one-on-one IDP counseling; and I coordinate the DDM Seminar Series. All of which are excellent opportunities to further professional development. I also manage the portfolio of pre-retirement workshops offered at NIH.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
Standing up the Mid-level Leadership Program in 2011 is my proudest accomplishment. I had just started at NIH and as a result of a concurrent departure was given the wonderful opportunity to manage the entire process. The Mid-level Leadership Program continues to be a highly anticipated and sought-after program by vanguard leaders across all of NIH ten years later.

What do you like most about your position?
What I like most about my position is twofold: 1) what I do at the NIHTC is incredibly fulfilling, and 2) I work on an amazing team that works as hard as they laugh.

What hashtags describe you best?
#believer #enabler #ridiculous #earnest

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I’m in love with nature; I embrace understanding through others; travel is an incredible vehicle for fun and learning; go Bay Area!

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am the Program Support Specialist. Every day is different, some days you will find me managing and updating WiTS tickets, managing facility requests, and scheduling meetings for the division. Other days you can find me updating documents for class schedules and working behind the scenes to help with onboarding.

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
Relocating from Rockledge to White Flint was an exciting challenge. Preparing the office for the big move involved a great deal of coordination and tracking a lot of little details. I worked with a team to ensure that it was a success.

What do you like most about your position?
I enjoy providing support to the team to make everyone’s workday easier and better. I also really like onboarding because I get to work with new hires and help them feel welcome and comfortable asking questions.

What hashtags describe you best?
#Smiley #BananaPudding #LifelongLearner #Comedian

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I love to cook! My favorite dish to prepare is tortellini alfredo. I also make desserts - my banana pudding is famous at the Training Center! I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and really enjoy looking up lesson plans to teach my son. 

What do you do at NIHTC?
I wear 2 hats at the NIH Training Center. I am the Program Manager for the LMS Administrator classes and I represent HR SAID as the LMS Functional Lead. I am like a liaison between NIHTC and HR SAID. It’s the best of both worlds. 

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
That’s a tough question because there have been so many great moments. If I had to pick one, it would be the NIH Training Center New Registration Process. I can’t wait to see it in action. It’s been two years waiting and watching this become a reality. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add another special accomplishment – The launch and support of the NIH Coronavirus Safety Training Video. It was tested and up in less than an hour right before Dr. Collins’s announcement to Group A!

But wait…I was the co-anchor for the SAID All Hands on the was on July 1. I could add a few more, piloting the LMS classes as virtual – Look at us now! Seriously, the list goes on. I have been enabled to use my creative strategy brain to explore areas that have yet to be tapped.

What do you like most about your position?
I have always wanted to be a liaison since I shadowed Larry Chloupek as part of MLP. It was the most rewarding and impactful experience I have had during my tenure at NIH. I am part of two families = WSDD and SAID. How incredibly cool is that! I get to work with so many wonderful people and impact the NIH mission.

What hashtags describe you best?
#trailblazer #crisismanagement #alwaysreadytohelp #foreverNIHfed #winterweatherenthusiast

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
Many of you know that I am crazy, just crazy about snow. Just to set the scene, I grew up in Augusta, Georgia. There was no snow to talk about, but I just loved weather. I loved the weather so much that during Hanukkah, 1983 I thought my parents got me The Weather Channel as a gift. I totally geeked out before knowing what geeked out meant. I watched it every waking hour. 

My passion is snow and providing fun weather reports to my current and former colleagues. What you don’t know is that I also geek out with hurricanes. My first was watching Hurricane Hugo form in the Atlantic. That one scared the daylights out of the me because I had friends in Charleston, SC.

The funniest story was around Snowpacalypse and Snowmaggedon. An NIH colleague insisted I needed to buy snow pants. I told her I had boots, but she said I’d thank her later. I have NEVER seen so much snow in my life and it was the BEST!

What do you do at NIHTC?
I do a mix of technical and administrative support. I mainly support the systems-based acquisitions, data analysis, and budget courses. 

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
With the help of my resourceful colleagues, we successfully transitioned our in-person classes to a completely virtual format, essentially within a few days, during the recent transition to telework. My biggest challenge has been ensuring that the pre-class preparation we do to our classroom computers makes its way onto each participant’s computer. With these pre-class preparations, it helps to keep class time dedicated to learning instead of troubleshooting technical problems.

What do you like most about your position?
Since I work on both the technical and administrative side, I can provide a thorough resolution to most problems.

What hashtags describe you best?
#turnitoffandonagain

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I follow the English soccer team, Chelsea FC, almost religiously.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I am Program Manager and Coordinator for the NIH Presidential Management Fellows (PMF.) 

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
I’ve been with the NIHTC for less than a year and I am currently working on my proudest accomplishment.

What do you like most about your position?
I enjoy working closely and interacting with all the NIH Management Interns (MI) and Presidential Management Fellows (PMF).

What hashtags describe you best?
#Lovestolearn

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I enjoy reading books, mostly non-fiction, and it's not unusual to find me reading multiple books at one time.

What do you do at NIHTC?
I manage the Senior Leadership Program, Supervisory Workshop Trainings and Super Shorts, as well as Federal HR, Title 42, and computer software trainings like Microsoft and Adobe. I also manage NIH Mandatory Training Inventory (MTI) we resource and the IC Mandatory Training Coordinators group.  

What is your proudest accomplishment here?
The inclusion of a robust and insightful Racial Equity session in our Senior Leadership Program. It’s more than your typical implicit bias training and it touches leadership across the NIH.

What do you like most about your position?
I love my NIH family! From the mission-driven and compassionate Dr. Collins to the thoughtful and streamlined NIH OHR office. The NIH Training Center’s leadership encourages smart and progressive processes, and fellow program managers and training coordinators are the best coworkers ever!

What hashtags describe you best?
#blessed #grateful #familyislife #cookingrightnow #bikeher #UCIgradMom

Tell us something about yourself- a hobby, best practice, interesting fact, etc.
I was a TSA Officer and Instructor at Ontario International Airport (California) for over ten years.