Q&A: Faculty and Staff Share What Makes Ross Special
At Michigan Ross, we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive. To spotlight the experiences of our community members, we invited faculty and staff to share how they’ve grown professionally at Ross and why they enjoy working here.
Jodi Smolek, administrative manager and executive assistant, Office of Advancement
How long have you worked at Ross, and why do you enjoy working here?
I have worked at Ross for a little under four years, but have worked in fundraising/development at the University of Michigan for 20 years overall.
I enjoy working at Ross because of the people and the strong sense of purpose that comes with the work. Being part of a collaborative, mission-driven team striving to make a meaningful impact is energizing. I’m grateful for the chance to grow, contribute, and work alongside my colleagues in the Office of Advancement. Fundraising here isn’t just about reaching a number — it’s about building genuine relationships with alums, telling powerful stories, and connecting donors to opportunities that benefit students, faculty, and the broader Michigan Ross community.
What roles have you held during your time at Ross?
I have held one role as the office administrative manager and executive assistant in the Office of Advancement.
How have you grown professionally at Ross, and what experiences have enabled your growth?
I’ve achieved significant professional growth at Ross in terms of my skills and confidence. Working on complex, high-impact projects has helped me strengthen my strategic thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. I’ve also learned a lot from the people around me.
One of the most significant contributors to my professional growth has been the school’s strong commitment to professional development — something that Matt Young, our chief advancement officer, truly champions. He actively encourages our team to seek opportunities to learn and grow, and I’ve always felt supported in pushing myself to the next level.
Sheila Patton, administrative supervisor, Administrative Core Team
How long have you worked at Ross, and why do you enjoy working here?
I’ve been at Ross for 12 years and truly enjoy being part of this community. I like working here because of the strong sense of community, the variety in my work, and the chance to make a meaningful impact. I also appreciate that the ACT team is very collaborative — we work well together and with the broader Ross community. I am happy to help out whenever and wherever I am needed — whether checking students in at the MBA student orientation, sorting and stuffing name tags for the Office of Action-Based Learning Multidisciplinary Action Projects kick-off, or processing financial transactions when the workload is high or other staff members are on vacation. Most recently, I met with the MBA Program office to help streamline the process for awarding guest students from other universities who win case competitions. I am hopeful that we were able to come up with a good solution for those students and the MBA Program team.
What roles have you held during your time at Ross?
My first position at Ross was as an administrative assistant for the Executive MBA Program, and I still have a soft spot for that team. Shortly after I was hired, the University of Michigan launched the Administrative Services Transformation Project, a campus-wide initiative to create the University’s Shared Services Center to provide administrative support to schools and units across the university by consolidating staff from schools, colleges, and units. In anticipation of these changes, Ross formed the Administrative Core Team to stay ahead of the transition. I’ve been part of the ACT team ever since.
How have you grown professionally at Ross, and what experiences have enabled your growth?
I’ve been with the ACT team since its inception, but the team has grown and evolved quite a bit over the years. That growth has provided opportunities to learn about leadership and management and opened new roles for me to step into.
When the ACT team moved into the new Kresge building, we needed students to staff the reception desks in the suites that house our degree program offices and various centers and institutes, such as the Erb Institute and Tauber Center. I was fortunate at that time to be promoted to student work-study manager, overseeing the students staffing the reception desks. I enjoyed working with the student workers — to this day, they bring great energy and are a valuable addition to the ACT team.
Eventually, I applied for the administrative supervisor position on the ACT team, which is the role I currently hold. This position is especially rewarding because the ACT team collaborates with many different units across Ross. We support a wide range of work and make a meaningful impact through those partnerships, and I’m lucky to do it alongside the best teammates and colleagues anyone could ask for.
Gene Mage, managing director of custom programs, Office of Executive Education
How long have you worked at Ross, and why do you enjoy working here?
I have worked at Ross for 10 years. I enjoy collaborating with our faculty team to design curricula for our Executive Education custom program clients. Our positive impact on executive learners and their organizations makes my work worthwhile. The executive learners who complete our programs become better leaders who create more positive workplaces and enjoy greater career success. The tools and ideas they apply after our programs result in improved results for their organizations.
I’ve also appreciated the opportunity to contribute to broader conversations about strategic initiatives at Ross, such as the new LA Campus plan and how we can build more collaboration across our Offices of Action-Based Learning and Advancement teams.
What roles have you held during your time at Ross?
At Ross, I have held one role as managing director of custom programs for Executive Education.
How have you grown professionally at Ross, and what experiences have enabled your growth?
Ross has provided me with the opportunity to build relationships with people across cultures through my work with executive learners around the world. Getting to know people with different backgrounds has helped me learn a lot about the world and myself.
Since coming to Ross, I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute as head of Executive Education’s executive coaching practice. In that role, I often use the Michigan Model of Leadership philosophy to help individuals understand how to effectively lead themselves, lead others, and drive results in organizations and communities.
I am also a member of the Michigan Medicine Executive Coaching team. In that role, I coach physician leaders and administrators on leadership topics. I am also a coach for the Sanger Leadership Center’s Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement. In that role, I work with Master of Management, MBA, and EMBA students to develop self-awareness and leadership skills.
My coaching experiences have helped me become self-aware of my strengths and development needs, clarify my sense of purpose, and explore different ways to contribute to the mission of Ross and the broader university.
Erik Gordon, clinical assistant professor and area chair of entrepreneurial studies
How long have you worked at Ross, and why do you enjoy working here?
I have been at Ross for more than 15 years.
I enjoy working at Ross because I can help capable, motivated students start their careers or businesses on a stronger footing than they would get elsewhere and help graduate students transition to the next phases of their careers.
I have faculty colleagues who are interesting, kind, and accomplished and who support and enrich my contributions to Ross. My staff colleagues are fun to work with and help me be productive. Additionally, Ross alums are second to none in their interest and support of school initiatives.
What roles have you held during your time at Ross?
I have served as a clinical assistant professor, area chair for entrepreneurial studies, faculty managing director of the Wolverine Venture Fund and Zell Early Stage Fund, associate director of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship, and associate director of the Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance.
How have you grown professionally at Ross, and what experiences have enabled your growth?
The people I work with at Ross have impacted my professional growth the most. I’ve participated in many opportunities, such as research forums and other public forums, where I learn valuable insights and ideas from colleagues who are stars in their classrooms. Through these experiences, my ability to help students learn has grown immensely, and I continue to gain a broader understanding of what constitutes valid, interesting, and impactful research.
Barbara Hopkins, senior customer service assistant, Office of Executive Education
How long have you worked at Ross, and why do you enjoy working here?
I have been with Ross since 2008. I love working at Ross for two reasons. The first is the people. Through my roles and committees, I’ve met many different people, and I enjoy recognizing them for their efforts and contributions through Ross Stars. I believe Ross is a very inclusive organization where people can thrive.
The second reason I love working at Ross is that I love U-M, am passionate about higher education, and enjoy working with professionals who come to the university for leadership training and to better themselves and their careers.
What roles have you held during your time at Ross?
I started at Ross as an administrative assistant with ACT. In 2019, I applied for my current role as a senior customer service assistant in Executive Education, and the team accepted me.
How have you grown professionally at Ross, and what experiences have enabled your growth?
When I worked with ACT, I was part of a team of administrative assistants who each worked with select units. The team was very collaborative and helped each other out for big events and initiatives. My experiences on that team truly helped me learn about Ross and its operations on every level — from students to the dean to program offices, centers, and institutes. ACT helped me understand the ‘lay of the land’ and how Ross units collaborate with each other. Knowing which departments handle certain interactions with our constituents helped in my transition to Executive Education.
I have also gotten to know many people from around the school and grow my professional skills and knowledge by serving on various committees at Ross.
