HEUG Famous: Jessica Holler Interview

Where do you work? How long have you been there?

I work at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.  October 6^th this year was my 22-year anniversary.

Are you working on-site, remotely, or hybrid?  What has that experience been like for you?

I am on a hybrid work schedule.  Now that I’m accustomed to this, I find that I like it.  Working from home provides the convenience of having no commute for a few days in the week and being able to throw in a load of laundry mid-day.  The added bonus is that it entertains people I meet in Zoom/Teams calls because our cats make regular appearances.  What I like about the days in the office is the return of hallway conversations and other interactions with my colleagues where I learn so much and get great ideas.

What Student or ERP system do you work in, and what modules do you primarily work with?

I work with Oracle’s PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (PSCS) and primarily with the Financial Aid and Campus Community modules.  I’ve also done work with the Veteran Benefit Reporting module within Student Records.

When did you get involved with HEUG?  How did that happen?

I have been involved with this community before it was even called “HEUG.”  Yikes, I’m old!  My first involvement was when I was a functional analyst for financial aid at Northwestern University when they were implementing PSCS.  That started for me in 1998.  At that time, there were a number of listservs for collaborating with colleagues at other institutions using PSCS.  I was added to that listserv about 10 seconds after I started with the implementation team.  There was an annual conference way back then we as well. I believe it was the last time the conference was held in Atlanta, GA where the HEUG acronym was announced.

In what capacities have you been involved with HEUG?

• Community member, most active within Financial Aid.
• Alliance Conference presenter.
• Member of the Financial Aid Advisory Group for two terms.
• Webinar presenter.
• Regional Conference presenter.
• Regional Conference Chair.
• Board Member.

Do you have a favorite or meaningful story regarding your time in HEUG?  

Just one?  Hmmm…  I’ll opt for telling a funny story about myself.  Through my work with the Financial Aid Advisory Group, I was invited to work with the University of Pretoria in South Africa as a short-term financial aid consultant.  On my first day, someone in the room said that what they wanted was a system where you could press one button, and everything would be done for you.  I burst out laughing!  (NOT a good first move as a consultant.)  But I recovered and responded, “There isn’t a financial aid system in the world that would do that…but with all of the regulations, would you really want it to?”  The person had the grace to agree with me.  Whew!  We got a lot done while I was there and have maintained many of those friendships.

What has been your favorite conference location? Why? 

I’d have to say my current favorite Conference location was San Antonio, Texas.  I remember the venue being very nice, the weather was lovely, the River Walk was a wonderful place to get outside.  And I remember it was only a short walk from the conference venue to the River Walk, but I really should check on that.  I’m delighted we’re going back there in a couple of years.

New Orleans, Louisiana, may become my new favorite.  I’ve only visited once, but I loved it and am looking forward to being there again.

What is your first HEUG related memory?

I’ll share my first “large group” HEUG experience…  The year was 1998.  The place: Dallas, Texas.  It was my first ever conference presentation.  The room was huge!  Massive stage fright was setting in… Then I got started and remembered that I love teaching.  I started calming down and got through the presentation without fainting.  During the Q&A section was when I realized that this was the happiest, most grateful “house” I could ever present to.  The questions were wonderful and made me think more deeply about the topic.  It was great!  I had found my people!

What is YOUR value proposition for HEUG?

I cannot express how valuable I have found the entire HEUG community.  Through my association with HEUG I have become better at what I do for DePaul, been challenged to learn more, and then to learn more deeply.  I have also developed some of the deepest friendships of my life.

• The financial aid community has taught me that there are myriad ways to get any one job done. 
• Preparing webinars and conference presentations has taught me always to find out the “why” of things. 
• Presenting webinars and conference sessions has taught me that I don’t need to have all of the answers.  If I don’t know the answer, another participant will!  Most of the time, I think I learn more from the session participants than they ever learn from me.
• Working with regional conference planning committees taught me to delegate.  When I was program chair, one of the committee members asked me how much I wanted to be involved in the session selection.  My response was that I trusted them to select the sessions in their area that they communities needed, but that I was always ready to help or to act as a tie breaker.
• Serving on the HEUG Board is affording me a way to give back to the organization.
• Through all of this I’ve learned that when higher education builds and maintains strong relationships, it succeeds.  Those relationships start with prospective students and their families, expands to include all students, staff and faculty, and develops to a lasting relationship as alumni.  HEUG has a similar progression with our relationships.  We all do better when we learn from and inspire each other.

Have you ever noticed how the Alliance Conference feels like an alumni reunion?

Do you have a work-related philosophy you would like to share?

My philosophy boils down to The Golden Rule:  I work to treat others as I want to be treated.

What new app/technology/platform is intriguing to you right now? 

As you might expect, AI is intriguing to me.  What I’d like to learn is exactly what Anna Kourouniotis’ posted to HEUG in November!  Applications for AI that are for things other than text editing.