- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
What was your path to get to where you are now? Were you always in tech?
I’ve always been interested in technology. My first job in high school was working in our IT clinic doing computer repair and classroom support. I worried at first that turning my passion into a career might ruin the fun, but I quickly realized there are so many different directions you can take in tech. In college, I joined UITS as an IT Support Technician at IU Columbus, where I discovered how much I enjoy supporting students and faculty in Higher Ed. That led me to the IU Support Center in Bloomington, where I supervised part-time staff and developed a passion for mentorship. Now, as a consultant on the IU eTexts team, I help faculty integrate learning tools into Canvas—combining my love of technology with supporting others.
What professional development activity did you complete with the help of the IUWIT grant?
The IUWIT grant helped me attend InstructureCon 2025 as a presenter, alongside peers and partners from the Unizin consortium. The conference is hosted by Instructure, the company behind Canvas, and it was an amazing opportunity to share the work we do at IU to support the inclusive access model.
Our session was called “Tired of Hearing About AI? Let’s Talk About IA—Inclusive Access.” We discussed how Unizin, IU, and other member institutions leverage the inclusive access model to provide affordable and accessible course materials for students. It was great to connect with educators and administrators from across the country and talk about the future of accessible learning tools
Who has inspired or mentored you along the way?
Two incredible women at IU—Brandi Rund and Renée Petrina—have made a huge impact on my career. Brandi was my team lead at the Support Center and constantly looked for opportunities to help me grow, even when it meant encouraging me to leave the team to take on new opportunities. Renée has helped me develop the confidence to advocate for myself and navigate challenging conversations.
Their mentorship showed me how powerful it is when women in tech support each other. That’s a big part of why I became a CEW&T mentor myself, so that I could provide the same guidance and encouragement to others.
What has your experience been like as a woman in tech, and what advice would you give to others?
I feel really fortunate to work at IU, where gender equity and inclusion are actively prioritized. In the past, I’ve had moments where I wasn’t sure I was being considered equally, but those experiences pushed me to speak up and make my work visible.
My advice for women in tech is this: advocate for yourself and for others. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas, even if you’re worried about saying the wrong thing. Go with your gut—it’s usually right. And when you see another woman facing a challenge, stand beside her. The more you lift others up, the more you create a community that supports you in return.