Week 9: Write about a secret
This is hilarious to me. The timing. “Write about a secret.”
I’ve been keeping a secret, which is not on brand for me because I have a big mouth. Then again, is it a secret if I’ve already told a lot of people? Because confirmed. I just haven’t told the internet.
The funniest part about this secret is that I have been so excited to reveal it, but I’m also SO SURE no one will care. Yet, I’ve spent the past three weeks dreaming about making this big announcement as if it matters to anyone besides me.
The only reason I’ve held off on announcing this is out of respect to some folks, but the cat is out of the bag and he’s beginning to seem a bit feral.
I’m not even sure if “secret” is the correct word anymore. “Technically not yet official” however, may better describe it. Is this getting annoying? Yes? Okay.
Friends, next week, I start a new job. After only four months in the corporate world, I’m returning to the roots (and heart) of my career—higher education. Not only that, but I’m heading back into the realm of architecture and urban design. [This site was originally created as my resume and portfolio. So, if you care to know more about my career history, it’s plastered all over this website.]
Monday, I’ll officially add director of communications for the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning to my resume.
I have about eight years of experience in higher education marketing and communications, and four of those years were spent in the Georgia Tech School of Architecture. My knowledge of architecture schools is niche, and the fact that I came upon an opening for my skillset AND knowledge located in my backyard is mind-boggling to me. So mind-boggling, in fact, that I didn’t apply for the position until about a month after I first saw the job post. Initially, I chose to ignore it because the timing was terrible. I was one month into a new job. Another month passed, and I saw the post again. This time, impulse took over. I’m so glad it did.
Did I mention my dad is an architect? I’ve had a great time learning more about what he does and what his work really means. I may not have the skills or education to be an architect, but my appreciation for the profession (and its connections to urban design, urban planning, landscape architecture, preservation, interior design, and more) goes deep.
On a very basic level, I think it’s cool that I found my way to a career adjacent to the world I grew up around. I can remember sitting in my dad’s office at TLM Associates, coloring with his fancy set of markers while he poured over piles of large sheets of designs. I also remember sneaking around the office wandering into his partner’s offices trying to find candy bowls.
I worked a summer at TLM pulling together requests for proposals (RFPs) and updating their website. This turned out to be a deep dive into my dad’s life’s work and provided me with a glimpse into what goes into each architecture (and civil engineering) project. It’s community-focused work, and it matters.
Needless to say, I’m very excited to begin my work at CU Denver. I’m excited to discover what students are learning about and working on here in Denver, my new community. And I’m excited to share their stories. Let’s do this!
