Position: Director of administrative services, School of Law–Newark

Length of service: In her current position since June 2006 and at the law school in Newark since 1995. She has worked as an administrative assistant to the director of administrative services and as an administrative assistant to the assistant dean of academic services.

What she does: Skipper manages business affairs for the law school as well as the school’s building. She coordinates special events, including arranging parking, space, and rental requests for major events at the Center for Law and Justice, which houses the Office of the Provost and the School of Criminal Justice. The office includes Skipper, a full-time security staff person, and receptionist. Skipper’s responsibilities include coordinating purchases and payments, repair and maintenance, and routine human resource management issues – everything from processing last-minute requests to searching for lost keys.  

Getting the job done: “I never think about whether a request is out of the ordinary. I just do whatever it takes to get it done,” said Skipper, whose computer is festooned with brightly colored sticky notes. If the ambiance is frantic, Skipper is not. “I enjoy working with so many different people, from law faculty and students to the nonprofit and business executives who use our building.” She learned about meeting clients’ needs while working with Dean Linda Garbaccio in the Office of Student Services. “Whatever I’m needed to do, I just do it, and then move onto the next job. I love being able to help people and make them happy. I truly believe in providing excellent service. It makes for a better working and business relationship with the client and the university.”

Balancing career and parenthood: A native of Elizabeth, Skipper attended Rahway public schools and holds an associate’s degree in applied science from Union County College–Cranford and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Rutgers’ School of Management and Labor Relations and University College–Newark. She worked in retail and attended school at night, while being a single parent and, later, in customer service and human resources at the Cranford office of Macy’s East. After the office closed in 1995, she landed her first administrative position at Rutgers–Newark, where she completed her bachelor’s degree. Someday she hopes to return to graduate business studies,  but her free time now belongs to her girls, Brieonna, 16, and Jayla, 6, at home in Rahway. “They’re into dance, cheerleading, and volleyball, and I try to make as many of their activities as possible.” Skipper’s family also includes four brothers, three sisters, and a longtime partner, Kyle. 

Most unusual request: Upon starting her position in June, she became involved in planning a summer wedding for about 100 people in the Herbert M. Ellend Atrium of the Center for Law and Justice. “It was a real surprise. I don’t think of wedding receptions when I think of law schools,” she said. Nevertheless, she dove right in, arranging for rentals of the chairs, flatware, glasses, and linens. “The details weren’t finalized until a week before the reception.” The building hosts relatively few matrimonial festivities, but there are almost daily receptions, programs, and professional events, each with individualized scheduling and set-up requirements.

On getting recognized and moving up: “The best way to get recognition is to give the job at hand 110 percent, be creative, have lots of motivation and drive, and always look for a better way to do things,” Skipper said. “It never hurts to take on more responsibilities if you feel as though you can handle them. Be patient, always follow up – and be a team player. 

Special thanks: Skipper says she owes a great deal to her mother, Henrietta, and her late father, Daniel, who together owned an office-cleaning business. “They taught us to be independent, hard workers; to set goals and achieve them; and to be well-rounded. They didn't have the benefit of a good education, but wanted all of us to have the opportunities they didn’t have, so they made sure that we got a good education.” She is also grateful that Stuart Deutsch, dean of the School of Law–Newark, and Associate Deans Frances V. Bouchoux and Marie Melito, both of whom “believed in my ability to handle this job, which is all about the smooth operation of the law school and the building.”