Olivia
Mendoza
Program Coordinator,
Academic Affairs
Adjunct
Marketing and Retailing College Instructor. Stand-up Comedienne.
Seamstress Extraordinaire. Disco Queen. Hard-core Trekkie.
Those are just a few of the titles that this vibrant woman
can answer to.
Olivia joined the Biochemistry Department last summer as
Program Coordinator. Previously, she’d spent more
than seven years working two jobs concurrently – as
Graduate Program Coordinator for the Arid Lands Resource
Sciences Graduate Program, and with the Graduate Interdisciplinary
Programs. Not only was she eager to put all of her energy
towards one job, but she had also heard that Biochem “was
a great place to work”.
She loves interaction with students and encourages student
involvement in department activities.
Olivia has already successfully produced the first “Age
of Biology” recruitment extravaganza and helped coordinate
the Parent’s Day Barbeque. She continually strives
to reach and attract new students to our department by attending
events such as “Meet Your Major” and career
fairs at local high schools.
A Tucson native, Olivia spends as much time as possible
with family and friends, and delights in encounters with
her eight nieces and nephews. She loves to swim and to cook,
and she enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy.
The
department witnessed her sewing talents last Halloween when
she appeared as a Can Can girl, in one of her many beautiful,
handmade costumes.
We've
no doubt she "Can do" whatever she sets her
mind to.
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Kriss
Pope
Senior Business Manager
Kriss Pope
is quite familiar with abbreviations and acronyms.
She comes to our department from the University of Arizona’s
Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology – the
IBSB, where she started in 2001. Prior to that, she was the
Director of CATER – the Center for Aviation Training
at Embry-Riddle (Aeronautical University).
And prior to that was a 10-year stint in the Air
Force as an Airborne Spanish Linguist. She’s a certified pilot
and Air Traffic Controller; she’s taken survivalist training;
she’s lived in South America and she’s traveled
to many other parts of the world.
Still, she’s excited about her new job as Senior Business
Manager, where she will administer the policies of two colleges,
prepare a large volume of grants, and interact with students.
Many of us first met Kriss when the IBSB was housed in Biosciences
West, and she was attracted to the team-oriented atmosphere
she found here. She’s had a strong desire to work in
a well-established academic department, and this job gives
her that opportunity.
Originally from Florida, Kriss loves just about anything related
to water, including sports and beaches. Much of her non-UA time
is spent with her family, primarily her husband Russ and their
three children, ages 7, 10, and 12. All three kids are actively
involved with baseball and swimming and the family likes to
hike and camp when schedules allow. Kriss is the president of
her PTO and is on a co-ed softball team.
We’re glad all that flying around landed her here. |
