With bachelor's degrees in Biology and Spanish, and a past in medical research and database handling, Katika Webster has a new role as public information officer for Northern Virginia Community College.
"When she (the former PIO) left, it was natural that I fill the position," Webster said. Webster obtained the position after working in the office for two years. Among other things, she backed up the previous PIO.
Born in D.C. in 1974, Webster aimed at a career in biology and went for a major in that field in Richmond, Taking a break in the studies between undergraduate and medical school, she earned her EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certification and worked in a couple of medical centers only to discover that the medical field was not what she really wanted.
She decided to try something else and took various courses in other fields, also working as a data manager.
After a while, however, time was not enough. "Working full time and going to school was too much." She says. Instead, she found a job at NVCC where she could work part time and simultaneously continue her courses.
During the years, Webster has gained many experiences from both the private and the public sector. She has been working with data management, coordinating a health and immunization study, training new staff and maintaining the NVCC office’s student inquiry and media tracking databases.
Her duties as PIO is to write press releases and feature stories, not to mention being a source of public information for media, publicizing programs, services and activities.
During her spare time, Katika goes to Math and English courses at the NVCC. She was president of the Society of Physics Students (SPS), voted SPS Chapter of the Year and NVCC Outstanding Club of the Year in 2001.
“I like telling people’s stories.” She describes herself. “There are a lot of interesting people on campus doing some extraordinary things. I like listening to their stories and letting other people know what a wonderful resource NVCC, its faculty, staff and students are."
Her goal for the future? To keep smiling...
<sh>Stats
<lst>Katika M. Webster
Born in Washington, D.C. 1974
Lives in Oakton
Single, no children
Went to college at the University of Richmond
Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Spanish
<sh>NVCC
<lst>Northern Virginia Community College
Largest institution of higher education in Virginia
Enrolls more than 64,000 students at five Campuses:
Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas and Woodbridge
A sixth campus is under construction in Springfield
More info on NVCC: http://www.nvcc.edu
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