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Campus News - October 15, 2001 |
Administrative whiz pieces together master plan
By Carolyn Gonzales
Lisa
Stewart serves as administrative assistant to Roger Schluntz, dean of the School
of Architecture and Planning. Doesnt he remind you of Jimmy Stewart?
she asks as he leaves to attend a meeting. He does have a kind of Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington look about him.
Stewart Lisa, not Jimmy has worked in Architecture and Planning
for three years and is currently working on the fall John Gaw Meem Lecture Series
with Architecture faculty Mark Childs. I contact the guest speakers
this year one came from Wales and I arrange for their travel, accommodations,
honoraria and travel reimbursement, she says, adding that the series also
takes place in the spring.
A major component of Stewarts job is keeping lines open. I work
with the three program directors architecture, landscape architecture
and planning to make sure that all communication is open between them
and the dean, she says. They are a passionate and dedicated group
with an incredible capacity for teamwork.
Realizing that communication between administrative assistants working for
the deans in all the UNM schools and colleges was important led Stewart to organize
regular meetings.
We plan to meet twice a semester. Weve found it to be an opportunity
for us to network. Each individual has a totally different job, depending upon
the dean, she says.
Stewart worked for an architect while earning an undergraduate degree at UNM
in French and Spanish. I was a non-traditional student, she adds.
But still, working at Architecture and Planning was not her first on campus
job. She worked at Foreign Languages and Literatures while working on a masters
in French, which she completed in 1996. The language skill came in handy.
We had a professor from France who taught in Architecture and Planning,
Michel Pillet. Hes now an emeritus. Hed stop by once or twice a
week to speak French. We both enjoyed it. I still get e-mail from him,
she says.
Shes also taken three semesters of German and is currently taking German 304, a theater class presenting, Komtesse Mizzi.
Stewart herself portrays Countess Mitzi. Its a fun class,
she says. The educational opportunities provided to UNM employees are
the best benefit.
I learned a lot from Foreign Languages and Literatures the importance
of language and culture, the importance of understanding and respecting others
as well as being able to communicate with people from other parts of the world
is significant, says Stewart, who adds that developing business level
language skills is particularly challenging.
From Architecture and Planning shes learned about UNMs role in
the community and the state. What Ive learned Ill be able
to take with me wherever I go, she says, adding that as long as shes
in the Albuquerque area, shell work at UNM.
Away from UNM, shes mother to Albuquerque Academy High School senior
Jenna. Husband Bryan shares her lust for knowledge; hes currently a UNM
student earning a masters in manufacturing engineering.
Stewart reaches out, also, to those hurt by recent events in New York. She
belongs to Designing Women, a quilting group putting together red, white and
blue blocks to be sewn into quilts and donated to victims families in
that city.
Whether with UNM, the larger international community or the folks back home in Omaha, Neb., Stewart brings together a patchwork of people and ideas.
| The
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