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When Stephanie Samson was asked to bring a prop for her photoshoot, she chose to proudly display a picture of her Great Dane, Blue, whom she calls the “love of her life” (with apologies to her husband, Ric).

“My husband and I chose not to have human children, so our dogs and cats are our kids,” says Samson. “Blue is our third Great Dane, and I will never be without one. They are the most gentle, loving, sweet, and goofy creatures!”

She finds she’s often wondering about Blue’s thoughts: Are they deep and meaningful? Or does he just want to know when his next cookie is coming?

An administrative assistant in the School of Life Sciences, Samson ensures the essential functions of her department run smoothly every day. This means  juggling the scheduling of classes each term, making sure new employees and faculty members are properly onboarded, and supporting the director of the school — all just a few among her many tasks.

Samson takes it all in stride, and at the end of the day, she can unwind with her fur babies and her favorite sporting events.

What is the biggest misconception about your job?

Probably that, as administrative assistants, we only do simple secretarial tasks like answering the phone or distributing mail. Our positions are so much more varied, complicated, and nuanced, and we do a lot of high-level administrative work. However, in my experience, everyone here at 51�Թ������ܿƴ� is very respectful and appreciative of what we do!

What’s the last big project you completed, and how did you celebrate/decompress afterward?

Building a full semester class schedule is always an accomplishment — there are so many moving parts! I compare it to a jigsaw puzzle in that all the pieces have to fit together just right. Luckily for me, I love jigsaw puzzles and have one going on my dining room table at any given time.

I work out to decompress and typically celebrate with a good meal — either sushi or pizza — and some good wine. 

Who have you looked up to in your life? 

My mother became a single parent when I was about 18 months old. I have four older sisters, and she essentially raised us on her own. She was tough and strict, and while I may not have appreciated her approach when I was a teenager, I certainly do now! She instilled in me a strong sense of right and wrong and taught me that strength and resilience can get you through a lot of hard times — and often you come out stronger on the other side.

What was your greatest day on campus? And your toughest?

Receiving the College of Sciences Distinguished Classified Staff Award was definitely the highlight of my time here so far. It’s nice to be recognized, and I was very grateful that my colleagues thought me worthy of it!

The toughest was probably when I started here, only because of the many new systems (looking at you, Workday!) and processes to learn. But everyone here was so helpful and kind and knowledgeable, particularly Katrina Switalski and Bretson Mann in the College of Sciences dean’s office. They made it a really smooth transition for me.

What brought you to 51�Թ������ܿƴ�?

Much of my career has been as a program coordinator in undergraduate and graduate medical education, managing medical student clerkship and residency training programs. I spent 15 years at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and then five years at MountainView Hospital here in 51�Թ������App. During my time at MountainView, I found myself really missing the spirit and camaraderie of academics and began looking for opportunities to return to a university setting. I was also really eager to go in a different direction from medical education and learn something new, which brought me to the School of Life Sciences. 

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a garbage collector. I would sit at the window and wait eagerly for the truck to come by! Seeing the men jumping on and off the back of the truck looked like so much fun. As I got a little older, I also thought I’d be a pilot, but my fear of heights kept me from pursuing that. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

It may sound corny and clichéd, but I’d tell myself to not let fear of failure hold me back. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in some respects and don’t like getting things wrong, but as I’ve gotten older I have come to accept that failure and mistakes are a part of life. You can’t let it get you down or hold you back — and while dwelling on mistakes doesn’t change what happened, you can learn from them going forward. 

Oh, and I would also tell myself to use sunscreen! 

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Sports! Hockey, football, baseball, college basketball. If my television is on, chances are good it’s tuned to some sort of sporting event.

As a Chicago native, I grew up watching the Bears and the Cubs and the Blackhawks, and the love of sports was really ingrained in me by the ‘85 Chicago Bears. I love the Golden Knights — who in Vegas doesn’t? — and was a fan before the team even had a name. When they announced Vegas was getting a professional hockey team, it felt like Christmas morning to me. 

Win or lose, I am devoted to all my favorite teams, but I have to say the Cubs winning the World Series and the Knights winning the Stanley Cup have been some of the greatest highlights of my life. Being at Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final and seeing the Knights win the Stanley Cup in person was perhaps the most exciting moment I’ve been lucky enough to experience. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried when the final horn blared! 

What’s your favorite part about living in 51�Թ������App?

There is so much to do! Music, sports, shows, food. If we aren’t watching or attending the aforementioned sporting events, you can find me and my husband at concerts. I am a big fan of music from the 1980s and am always thrilled when someone I loved in my formative teenage years comes to town. Our most recent shows include the Psychedelic Furs, Squeeze, Pat Benetar, and Barry Manilow.

What’s your ideal vacation?

It’s a tie between lying on a beach with a good book and a margarita and traipsing around the breathtaking landscape of New Zealand. I’ve been there several times, and it is my favorite place on Earth.