Donna is the Manager of Operations from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. She just celebrated her 27th year at FSM in November 2007!

What do you do at CMB? 
I am part of a team of extremely skilled and dedicated individuals who make up the administrative, financial and technical components of the department.
 
What do you like about your job? 
The best part of my job has to be the people I work with.  My Department Chair, Dr. Robert Goldman, allows us the freedom to carry out our responsibilities and is very supportive of our efforts.  Of course, we are most grateful to the FSM Deans and their offices for all of the support and assistance we’ve received over the years.  Due to the achievements of our outstanding faculty and the efforts of my co-workers, Bob Valadka, Deborah Everds, Debbie Fair, Danielle Aeschbacher, Elsie Owen, Delilah Zillender, Meghan McCleskey, Barbara Jaron, Ed Kuczmarski, and Edward Lynch, all part of the CMB ‘team’, the department has been very successful for many, many years. 
What’s your education background?   My undergraduate degree is in Business Administration, and I have graduate certifications in MIS from DePaul University and in Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. 

What do you like about your job?  
Working with a group of very talented and accomplished faculty, staff, and students all these years has been very exciting for me.  Since CMB faculty are so collaborative, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with colleagues in FSM basic science and clinical departments and centers and institutes such as MPBC, Physiology, Pathology, DOM, Dermatology, Surgery, Neurology, Ophthalmology,  Preventive Medicine, Urology, the Cancer Center, the Center for Genetic Medicine, the Buehler Center on Aging, the Institute for Healthcare Studies, the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Center for Aids Research, the Feinberg Cardiovascular Institute, and NUIN.  Of course, CMB faculty research collaborations also reach across the NU campuses, and as a result, I’ve gotten to know many colleagues in the Evanston Life Sciences, McCormick, the Institute for Nanotechnology, and the Medill School of Journalism as well. 

What are your hobbies?  
I read a lot about WWII history and enjoy science fiction.  I’ve also traveled around the world and have always been interested in new-age phenomena and have attended a number of workshops and seminars in this area.  I follow national and local politics and volunteer for Amnesty International.

What do you like do to in your free time? 
One of my passions has always been real estate, particularly in Chicago.  Recently, I completed a course in real estate sales and was successful at passing the State of Illinois exam.  I am now a licensed real estate agent. 

Can you tell us something interesting about yourself? 
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to ‘fire-walk’ with my favorite new-age guru, Tony Robbins.  That is to say, I literally walked on fire.  It was certainly one of the most fascinating and interesting experiences I’ve ever had, and I even have the T-shirt to prove it!