Focus On Staff With Lori Ikerd

Lori Ikerd is the new associate to the dean of the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, where she says she thoroughly enjoys the variety, multi-tasking and interaction with faculty, staff and students on a daily basis.
 
We welcome Lori, and below find out a little bit more about her role and interests. 

What is your background?

I just started at UC in January of this year. I am originally from Miamisburg, Ohio, graduated from Miamisburg High School and attended Wright State University. During the last 20 years, I have had the pleasure and wonderful opportunity of working for a broad variety of organizations, including government, health and private organizations and public and higher education. While working for Kettering Health Network in 2009, an opportunity with Wayne State University in Detroit presented itself. So, I decided to take a leap of faith and moved to Birmingham, Mich. Working in the Detroit area for the last three years was an adventure filled with new culture and diversity, and provided me with an experience that is priceless. However, I missed my family dearly and knew I needed to come back to Ohio.

What does your position entail?

My job duties and responsibilities change daily.  My responsibilities include working closely with the dean, William Fant, PharmD, and executive and college administrative teams to assist with management of the college faculty/staff, multi-varied administrative duties of the office and other necessary tasks associated with the daily operation of the college. However, a typical "normal” day of duties starts with ensuring the dean is prepared for the day/week. This would include: preparing materials for meetings, agendas and minutes, maintaining a complex calendar, scheduling meetings and confirming appointments.  As a key member of the dean’s office, I serve as a primary liaison between the dean, faculty/staff, alumni, local community and other university department executive leadership. I am responsible for central coordination of a wide variety of special projects and compliance directives, which require analysis, organizational design, systems integration and planning.

How do you describe working at UC?

I would tell someone looking at a position at the Academic Health Center that UC is a fantastic place to belong and be a part of a working family. During the last three months I have worked at UC, I have witnessed growth, experienced excitement and am learning more every day. Because of the support, team ethic and encouragement, I am able to fit in and perform my duties, while loving my new position.

On a personal note…

I enjoy spending time with my three children. My oldest daughter, Jessica, is a senior at the University of Toledo, a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and will be attending UC this fall to start her master’s in elementary education. My son, Tyler, is a senior at Miamisburg High School, has confirmed to start at UC in the fall and will hopefully be a walk-on for the Bearcats football team while studying sports therapy. My youngest daughter, Julia, is in eighth grade, cheers competitively, plays volleyball and is enjoying being a teenager. My hobbies include: reading; wine tasting; attending and playing in sporting events; volleyball, softball, and racquetball; tailgating; and traveling, as much as I am able to. My dream is to someday backpack throughout Europe while sightseeing and enjoying the history.