Faces of Brown is an occasional feature to introduce the Brown community to colleagues.
Working here since: 1985
Hobbies: Playing golf and reading
What is your professional background? I worked at St. Ann's Hospital School of
Nursing for 17 years in the Student Clinic mostly on a part-time basis. I
enjoyed working and interacting with the student nurses until the school
closed.
What attracted you to Brown? When I left the hospital it was during a time that
health care was going through major changes and I feel I needed a change also.
I had a friend who came here to work from the hospital and loved it. Shortly
after, I saw a job ad in Sunday's paper, that Monday I dropped off my resume
and on Friday I had an offer. The way things worked out it felt like it was
fate that I come here. I worked for the director of Health Services. The fact
that I would be working with students again was an easy transition...and
remaining in a health care environment was also easy. I was there for two years
and then I came here to be John Kuprevich's [the director at that time]
secretary. A friend from Student Life suggested I talk to him, and when I did,
his vision really impressed me and I decided to join this department. At that
time, a lot of things were happening in this department, such as card access,
crime prevention, outreaches. He sold me on this department. My career path at
Brown is proof that with hard work, commitment and dedication, you can
succeed.
What has kept you here? The people in this department and the community at
large. Some people do not seem to understand or grasp the concept, but I feel
the sense of community here at Brown. I interact with many people at Brown, I
have made many friends since I've been here and know these friendships will
last a lifetime.
Worst part of your job? The hardest things are the budget issues. There's so
much to do on a limited budget, trying to do the most for our department with
available funds. We try hard to stay within budget and we do the best we can.
What is the best part of your job? Interacting with all the people in the
department on a day-to-day basis. I feel that we are a close department - we
work well together. It's great knowing that you are going to do something that
you enjoy every day.
What has been your greatest success? In 1997, I attended the Stephen Covey
Seven Habits of Effective People. That had a big impact on me. Prior to that, I
considered myself "driven" and ambitious. I wanted to succeed and it was
costing me with my family and friends. I was too focused, unfortunately, on the
wrong things. I wanted perfection and Covey told me that you can't always
achieve that. First things first - you have to have a personal life along
with everything else. So it really made me step back and look at my life.
Writing a mission statement was a big step. Mine begins with "The joy of life
is the trip not the destination." To me that's success!
What is the worst stereotype that folks have of this department? I think that
there are many individuals in the community who don't realize the level of
professionalism that we have in our department. We still have people refer to
our officers as security "guards." I wish we could get rid of the image of that
old security guard. Accreditation proved that we merit the professionalism we
display on a daily basis and we are in no way, shape or form "security
guards."
If given the opportunity to say one thing to the entire community what would
you say? We as a department are here for the community. Everything we do and
say is for the safety of the community. Every single one of us has that in
mind. I would encourage everyone get to know the members of this department.
Talk to them, voice your concerns to them, ask them questions. We are all here
for you!
What has been one of the highlights during your time with Police and Security?
Receiving the first Dennis L. Boucher Award was a wonderful moment for me. This
was created as a nonpatrol award for consistently exceptional dedication to the
department and community. Having former Chief Boucher come from North Carolina
to present it to me was a special moment. Damaris M. Castillo-Lopes