EMPLOYEE PROFILE:

Name: Eileen A. McAllister

Title: Technical Clerk, Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning

Length of service at the College: 3 years

Place of birth: Knoxville

Family members: Daughter, Veronica, 10; sons, Vaughn and Ian, 9 and 6; parents, John T. and M. Ann McAllister, many years old; 3 sisters; 2 brothers; 3 brothers-in-law; 2 sisters-in-law; 8 nephews; 11 nieces; 2 great-nieces; and 1 great-nephew. I also have tons of aunts, uncles, and cousins and NO mother-in-law.

Something no one knows about you: That I LOVE coffee. Oh, wait … I guess just about everyone knows that…

Greatest achievement or proudest moment: Proudest moment—The first time that I mowed my yard last summer. That was the day that it hit me that it was MY yard, around MY house. This was something that I thought was many years in the future, but my family helped me make home ownership a reality. It is great that I can finally offer my children some security and stability, and there is plenty of room for my garden and fruit trees!

Favorite things outside work: Gardening, baking, camping, tinkering with and playing on computers, reading (mostly sci-fi and fantasy), naps.

Most rewarding part of your job: The fact that I can finish my education while I am here. I chose the “get married and have kids” route instead of finishing my degree, and I appreciate that I have the chance to complete that degree now.

Most influential person in your life and why: My daughter. She is so organized and responsible. She perseveres when she encounters a problem until she finds a solution. Her creativity is amazing in the arts and in problem-solving areas, she has diplomatic skills that rival adult professionals, and her kindness and selflessness are reflected in the way that she is always thinking about what others need instead of just what she wants. I just sit in awe of her sometimes, and I am, of course, extremely proud of her!

Favorite quote: “What’s another word for Thesaurus?”—Steven Wright