When I came to Syracuse University in 2000, I had a pretty clear set of expectations about what I wanted from my grad school experience and what I wanted to do after graduation. My plan was to get some good practical skills, find a job in the magazine industry in New York for a few years, and then relocate to a smaller city.

What I did not expect from my SU experience was how much of a connection I would develop with the University and the Syracuse area. From my first visit here, I felt like I belonged. Maybe it had something to do with the thrill of being in an environment of scholarship and youthful energy. I still can’t quite put my finger on it, but I know I feel it. Even now, years later, the view of the Hall of Languages walking up University Avenue makes me smile.

I was also surprised by the fact that while I came to Newhouse to become a writer and editor, it turned out that I was a bit of a designer, too. Looking back, I realize that was a defining event of my education and early career. Up to that point, I had only ever considered myself a writer. And the single most valuable thing I learned that year was to be open to the possibility of doing something different, and allowing myself to enjoy the journey. That discovery was made possible by great professors, supportive peers and an environment that made me feel free to go off the charted course and pursue my emerging curiosities and talents. Needless to say, I left Syracuse in 2001 with a lot more than a master’s degree.

So I went to New York for a few years and discovered two things:

-          New York City was not for me
-          the magazine business was not for me either.

So much for my plans. I improvised. I started working in marketing communications, and got hired at a retailer of fine paper called Kate’s Paperie. It was another defining event of my career, because it set me on the path toward Jolie Colis.

In the years that followed, I enjoyed the benefits of calling myself an alum of Syracuse and Newhouse. It opened doors for me in my career. It provided a terrific network of colleagues and friends. It even helped me find roommates and apartments. But the memory of this exceptional place stayed with me, and eventually I decided it was time to come back. Once again, I had a plan. I would try to get hired at SU and hopefully contribute to a transformative experience for someone else. And once again, my plan didn’t quite go the way I expected.

It took me about a year to get hired at SU. I finally landed a job in the Office of News Services, where I wrote stories of ground-breaking research, of real people making a difference in the world. It was the most inspiring thing, meeting these unbelievably talented, brilliant people. I interviewed Professor Joseph Chaiken, whose bloodless glucose-measuring device is going to revolutionize the way diabetics monitor and manage their blood sugar. I spent time with Marvin Druger, an SU legend, who has taught over 40,000 students in his 46 years of teaching biology at SU career. Two years ago, I came across an opportunity to help students in my own way in the Division of Student Affairs. Working on the readySET has been incredibly fun and rewarding. I’m really proud of the project, which has a cast of hundreds from across campus. There aren’t many jobs out there that offer opportunities to do such highly creative, collaborative work. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of an institution that made such a meaningful impression on me, in my studies and in life.

So as you can see, I’m drawn to creative projects. That’s how Jolie Colis began. In October of 2007, I officially hung a shingle for the first time in my life. And despite its humble beginning, running Jolie Colis has been one of the most fun and fulfilling things I’ve ever done. And I love that my business is based here. I never thought I’d become an entrepreneur, but coming to SU made me understand the power of imagining what’s possible. The combination of that openness and discovering new talents is a really amazing thing. It’s transformative. That’s why I’m such a cheerleader for SU. I hope our current students and future generations of them find transformative experiences of their own here. In uncertain times like these, the ability to change and reinvent yourself is especially important. I know I'll be able to evolve again soon. In fact, I look forward to it. I wasn't like that before I came to Syracuse. A skeptic might chalk this up to the regular maturation process people go through during school. But I like the idea of having found the braver and more talented version of myself here. Why question it?

Lastly, we often describe Scholarship in Action in terms of an an outward focus on putting ideas, skills and talented people into the world. But we must not forget that the bold dreamers and innovators who create those solutions and ideas must first be cultivated and inspired. And I love that I am a part of this place, because that’s what we do here. It’s a lot like wrapping fancy gifts for other people. You get to be a part of something meaningful, something that’s treasured.