Fran is the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Dean
How long have you been at the university and what’s your current role?
17 years total. I have been Chief of Staff in the Office of the Dean for 10 years.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Far and away the people I get to work with every day. My colleagues here in the Office of the Dean are service-oriented, hard-working, mission-driven believers in higher education and they all do incredible work ON TOP of being caring, kind, and wickedly funny. And, I love getting to know the brilliant and talented faculty and staff in the College. We are all experiencing challenging times right now, but I continue to feel very fortunate that the people who work here in the College care about their colleagues and students, and center their commitment to their work on serving and helping and educating others.
What’s your secret talent?
I can guess the make, model, and year of any car produced between 1955 and 1985 with a high degree of accuracy despite not being an auto enthusiast.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Cook, garden, go to concerts, hang out with my wonderfully weird teenage children.
What is your perfect idea of a relaxing day?
Crossword puzzle with breakfast, go for a walk, go to an activity with my family – beach, street festival, bowling, movies, whatever – and a nice, high-carb dinner with a glass of wine.
For people looking to try out something new (food, TV shows, places, etc.), what would you recommend?
My husband and I really enjoy Oskar in Evanston. It’s a whiskey and bourbon bar on Custer by the Main St. Metra stop. They have a great cocktail menu, the bartenders are really fun to chat with, I love their music selections, and we almost always end up making a new friend when we go. It feels difficult to find places where you can do that – so many bars and restaurants seem designed to make the space about your individual customer experience, but there is so little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with others. Oskar is small and intimate and it’s nearly impossible NOT to strike up a conversation with the people around you, even if it’s just to recommend your favorite drink from the menu!