Name/Title: Judy Houfek, administrative coordinator, Dean’s Business Office, College of Medicine
Hometown: Omaha
Talk about your job and what you like best about it:
My position includes a variety of duties, so that no one day is the same as the next. I spend a large amount of time working with COM department administrators and staff on the faculty recruitment process, including approval of RAFs, employment agreements, and answering numerous questions. I am responsible for medical student compliance, medical student affiliation agreements, and coordinating and staffing special projects.
Besides the routine, day-to-day work, there are also annual responsibilities, such as organizing the Faculty Honors Convocation, staffing the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and doing the Faculty Council Election.
What I like best about my job is that it is not static; it is always changing dependent on what needs to be done at the time. I enjoy the challenges and the fact that no matter how old I am or how long I’ve worked here, I learn something new just about every day.
Your favorite memory of working at UNMC:
I’m not sure there is just one favorite memory. Being a part of UNMC and seeing how the campus has grown over the past 37 years is amazing.
Hobbies:
I enjoy spending time outside in the yard taking care of numerous flowers, bushes, trees, and a small pond, with waterfall, that I designed for my dogs to cool off in during the hot days of summer. My dogs are not only my hobby, but a big part of my life. They brighten my days and are always happy to see me come home from work. I also enjoy reading and getting together with friends.
List three things people may not know about you:
I have worked in the COM Dean’s Office for 37 years, first as secretary to the dean, then administrative assistant to the dean, and currently as administrative coordinator in the dean’s business office. During that time, I worked for seven deans and five interim deans.
I have three children and four grandchildren. My daughter and son-in-law and 14-year-old twins live in Senegal. They have been missionaries for the past 25 years.
I am an avid Husker fan and enjoy attending football, basketball (both men and women), volleyball, and baseball games at every opportunity.