"New" Faculty and Staff! Introducing Gloria Despard

Well, Gloria is not new to Roeper! In fact, this is her 25th year here and has had many roles. She is known for her dedication, hard work and attention to detail. Gloria has transitioned out of her job as Athletic Administrative Assistant and continues as the Assistant to the Performing Arts Department and working on the Spirit Shop. She now has more job responsibilities on the Birmingham campus including managing Photo Days, Locker Assignments, Parking Permits, and assisting with Student ExtraCurricular Expo, Graduation and Junior Senior Dinner, to name a few! Congratulations on taking your multi-tasking talents to new heights, Gloria!

Here are her answers to our questions:

1. Describe your life in six words. Unpredictable, Active, Always interesting, Blessed, Simple, Good
2. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? There's no place like home, but I wouldn't say no to living up in the Austrian Alps where I could wander the hills all day.
3. If you could invite 3 guests, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be? Abe Lincoln, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Victoria
4. What are some things you'd like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace? Born in Detroit and, except for an 11-year stint in West Michigan, I've lived in and around the Detroit area in 7 different cities. My son Ben attended Roeper in his early elementary years. He currently runs a prop and costume rental business in addition to providing costume direction for several of the Roeper Theater Company productions, as well as handling props, costume and art direction for several community theaters.  Mike, my lifemate, masquerades as an IT guy, but his passion is truly given to the baritone horn, which he plays in a 38-piece, British style, brass band.
5. What are your hobbies and interests outside of working at Roeper? Tennis, Gardening, Art Fairs, Farmers Markets, walking, entertaining, attending band concerts, game nights with friends and "noodling" in the lake.
6. What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job? The opportunity to tap into so many aspects of my past professional and personal experiences; the assurance that I would be treated with respect and valued for my work; to continue working in education; that everyone was so relaxed and friendly, and the no-cut policy for athletes.