Amy Martens
Department Administrator
Family?
My husband and I have two children (Alexander – 5 and Zachariah -9). Raising children has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences. My boys are currently in karate and my oldest will be testing for his black belt in the next 12 months or so. My husband will finish his law degree this year and will have completed it while both going to school full-time and working full-time.
Surprising fact about you?
I’ve traveled to Spain, India, and most recently Costa Rica. I speak enough Spanish to be dangerous!
What is the best book you have ever read?
When I was younger, I loved reading fiction. As my career progressed and I went back to school, my time was spent reading textbooks and case studies. I am now at a place where I am finding a balance and have enjoyed reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. In it, Covey presents an approach to being effective in attaining goals by aligning oneself with what he calls “true north.”.
Best advice you ever received and how it carried you through life?
Someone’s true character shines in difficult situations.
In The Spotlight
What three traits define you?
While there are many characteristics and trails that define me as a professional, the three that stand out are:
Ethics – I try to live by a code of sound moral principles.
Goal Focused – I have an appreciation for setting goals and working to attain those goals, and I enjoy celebrating milestones and accomplishments along the way.
Self-Disciplined – I value long-standing principles that focus on successfully completing my goals.
What do you think is the most important quality you need to have for success?
As a Department Administrator, building relationships is a necessary component for success, and at the core of building relationships is listening. Collaboration with my colleagues is key to obtaining success, and I rely on those from all levels of our department, school, and University to ensure success. Additional qualities include critical thinking, patience, persistence, and adaptability.
What does true leadership mean to you?
The ability of an individual to establish a following among other individuals or teams is true leadership. Every leader has their own style that is influenced by multiple factors. At the end of the day, leadership to me includes:
- The pursuit of bettering our environment
- Knowing your team and yourself – playing to strengths and addressing weaknesses
- Giving people the tools necessary to succeed
- Being open and authentic and working towards a common mission
- Having clarity, confidence, and courage – to know the right things to do, the confidence to admit when I am wrong, and the courage to do the right things even when they are difficult
- Actively seeking solutions to problems; and
- Building the next generation of leaders by mentoring and advocating
What do you value most in a job?
Finding a job/career you love is priceless! Too often, people don’t take the time to reflect on what is important to them and what they value when choosing a job and/or career path. In my job, I value people and relationships, I value being respected and appreciated for the work I do, and I value the flexibility and autonomy to accomplish my job.
What personality trait are you always trying to improve?
I can be sarcastic at times, and I’ve found that I often use sarcasm as an outlet. As I have young children, they often emulate my behavior so I have become more cautious.
What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
If I was not an administrator, I would have likely found my way to a health-related organization to work on process improvement and/or project management as those are areas in which my passions lie. Surprisingly, I’ve always been interested in teaching fitness classes. I used to be an avid runner and remain active so it seems like a perfect fit. I could get a workout in and be compensated simultaneously.
What is your best advice for encountering a new situation?
I recently attended a leadership retreat in which team building activities took place. The coordinator would say, “Go slow to go fast.” This resonated with me as I’m learning about Medical Physics, its history, and helping establish its next chapter. This is especially exciting for me as I continuously remind myself to go slow and seek to understand before going fast.
Which day of the work week are you the most productive?
I’m most productive on days I have a large cup of coffee in the morning!