- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
Could you explain some of the responsibilities of your role at IU?
I have had many roles at IU, and my current job is no different. I am using skills I have had for almost 40 years. I was an original developer on the HRMS PeopleSoft project in data, and I was a tech director for Career Services at the Kelly School. My experiences and my credentials with a computer science degree have prepared me for enterprise-level database and data design and development.
I have more access to data for a department than anybody on campus because I developed a lot of it. In my current role, I am deeply involved in "decision enterprise support services" within the Kelly School of Business. One of the key challenges I have taken on is related to academic advising, specifically regarding the management of degree audits for students. It was quite a situation to tackle because various departments were struggling to keep track of their degree audits effectively. Given my background and understanding of coding and SQL, I decided to take on the responsibility and initiated this project with undergraduate program as a prototype. I took raw data and modelled it. So, we have AAR batches, and we schedule a download, that downloads about 2 million rows of data. The reports from this data are essential to support the degree progress for the volume of students at Kelley, which are more than about 10,000. It's been a really growing experience for me with the departments and what their needs are for the students. We're continuing with that and I'm trying to train someone else in this someday.
The Dean's office is developing an evaluation system that uses student evaluations as a component for determining tenure track ratings and rankings. It involves heavy calculations and coding. It's an ongoing project, and I'm deeply involved in it. I do an awful lot of data design and development with Oracle and SQL Server, and I am an Oracle administrator. I thrive on data; it is enterprise work, and it reaches thousands and thousands of people. While this role may feel a bit narrow to me compared to my past experiences as a director of tech services, I thoroughly enjoy it. It's a trade-off. I am almost famous because I have been at IU and have developed some of the major warehouse data. People trust me with data, and I genuinely enjoy it. I wouldn't have it any other way.
What did you want to be as a child, and how has that journey led you to where you are today?
Growing up, women were expected to be nurses, teachers, or secretaries at best. But when they say nurses, teachers, or secretaries, they're implying that you probably weren't a nice young lady if you did anything else. My father worked in electronics and had equipment at home. I'm almost certain I was the only little girl my age playing with Barbie and an oscilloscope back then. I am certain of it. My Barbie enjoyed playing with oscilloscopes. My mother was a secretary, but she was also a musician, so I inherited her musical abilities. Those plug into the mindset and the granular analysis all work together. I enjoyed math. So, I wanted to be either something technical (which I didn't know what to call back then), a musician, or a farmer. I'm not sure how you got those three. I'm a musician who dabbled in technology, so two out of three.
I went to college. I went all the way through high school, not thinking anything about it, so the year I was a junior in high school, our women's basketball team reached the state finals, and women were starting to take on these roles that men had, but I had no idea how uncomfortable that made people feel. People couldn't figure out what I was up to. I wasn't sure if I did either. I just knew I was terrified, and I was following my heart. And today I'm so glad I did because I ended up getting degrees in all kinds of things, including a degree in Math and Computer science and a degree in classical studies and music marketing.
Do you have any advice for other women in IT?
“Follow your heart and pursue your passions and your genuine interests will guide you towards the path you need to be on.” While I was raised with traditional expectations, breaking away from those norms allowed me to become the person I am today, and I'm grateful for it. I won't deny that it can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain, but the journey is worthwhile. I am currently involved with the Kelley School of Business Women's IT Group, which I helped form. It is a way for me to give back and share the wisdom I have gained over the years.
Is there a role model you look up to in your personal or professional life?
I have been fortunate to have several role models in my life who have had a significant impact on both my personal and professional journey. My father patiently helped me with math, never thinking it was out of the ordinary. My mother, despite our lower-middle-class background, supported my pursuit of a music degree.
In my academic path, a couple of my music professors were incredibly influential, providing valuable mentorship and guidance. My high school physics teacher also played a crucial role in my education.
Beyond academics, my church community made a significant difference. They managed to strike a unique balance between tradition and openness, offering support on my journey. These individuals and my church community were not just role models but essential in shaping who I am today. Despite the challenges we all faced, they played a crucial role in the person I have become.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
I sing with the Bloomington Chamber Singers, and I am taking pipe organ lessons. You might even catch me at the First Christian Church on Kirkwood, playing the pipe organ.
Traveling is another deep-seated interest of mine. It's in my soul. My last name, "Parkes," has a British spelling, and we make it a point to visit national parks every year. To keep track, the National Park Service provides passport books with date stamps indicating where you've been. I'm on my fourth or fifth book.
I do like to stay home and read. Specifically, when I visit national parks, I like to buy informative books that aren't fiction but provide a wealth of knowledge about the parks and the history of the US. I've been told that Park Rangers and staff are required to read some of these books to enhance their understanding of the parks and surrounding history. But music and traveling are my main passions.