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After graduation I moved to the Washington DC area, where
I still live, in Alexandria VA. My first roommate was MHC
classmate Missy Thornton. Later, I shared a house with
Betsy Pratt.
My first job was for the Federal Government and,
unexpectedly, I stayed a “fed” my entire working career. I
had several different positions in what is now called Human
Resources for three government agencies—Treasury/Bureau of
Government Financial Operations (they issue checks),
Commerce/US Patent and Trademark Office, and the Smithsonian
Institution. While at the Smithsonian, I made a change to
administrative management and after working with the art
museums for a number of years, I became the head of
administration at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture
Garden. I took early retirement from this position at the
end of 2005.
On the personal front, I married Barry Pierce (UNC)
twenty years ago and we have a son, Adam (17). Being the
mother of a teen is the most challenging thing I’ve ever
done. I hope, like childbirth, someday I’ll look back and
not remember much of it!
What are you doing now...and how did you get here?
Retirement has definitely brought me a less stressful
life and it has been possible only because I stayed with the
federal government, something I never imagined. In the
last 3 ½ yrs I have done a few small management consulting
jobs and I work, for minimum wage and a good discount, as a
kitchen assistant for cooking classes at the local Sur La
Table. I love the flexibility my volunteer work allows me
from day to day and week to week. No more commuting to
downtown during rush hour (DC’s rush hour is second only to
LA, I think I’ve read).
As a volunteer, I usher at Signature Theatre (about to
receive a Tony Award this year for regional theatre); am a
class assistant for a local pre-school Head Start class of
children 18-36 months; serve on the Board of Crane House,
The Asia Institute, Inc. in Louisville KY, a regional center
for Asian culture; and edited several volumes of a
publication of Virginia Slave Birth Records from 1853-1865
for the Alexandria VA library.
I attend step aerobics classes weekly to stave off heart
disease and osteoporosis, work in my garden and enjoy
cooking.
Despite the economic downturn of recent months, life is
still pretty good and I’m healthy and happy (for the most
part)! |
