Name/title: Selaba Travis/office associate II
Hometown: Aurora/Denver, Colo.
Talk about your job and what you like best about it:
I have a "working title" of research program associate that was given to me to be a little more descriptive of my area of work. The job has turned out to be a job with a lot of variety – one where you do some things biennially or yearly or quarterly. Besides the people I have worked for and with, the best part has been that it is usually not boring. The down side is that you no sooner think you know how to do something, and the next time you go to do it, you have to relearn the process. This is probably familiar to many at UNMC.
Some of the things I do include coordinating our departmental biennial report, which we have had professionally produced since 2008. I have produced our departmental newsletters, which involves interviews, writing the copy, and processing the layout, since 2004. I have coordinated our departmental Summer Undergraduate Research Program for over 10 years, and now, also, our Summer Undergraduate Research Alcohol Program. I also run annual grant and publication data for our department.
Your favorite memory of working at UNMC:
I really enjoy being able to hear from various investigators about their latest work. In a very small way, I feel like I can relate to what they do. I can live vicariously by hearing about it, since I do not have that science background. I also have really enjoyed working for the professionals I work with; they have been very inspiring.
Hobbies:
I love to garden. I’ve always liked to play in the dirt, as I think of it, but it also fills my desire for creating beauty. I was in the Master Gardeners program of Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office for several years before other priorities came into play. The program is a great way to learn the science behind best growing practices.
List three things people may not know about you:
I’m originally from Aurora, Colo. However, I’m only five years shy of having lived in Nebraska as long as Colorado. I only missed the mountains for the first 10 years. Then I discovered what a great place Nebraska is to grow flowers!
I have one son who lives in Pasadena and another who lives in Baltimore. Needless to say, I don’t see either very often. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?
I spent 10 years of my early adult life in a meditation group and changed my name during that experience.