Biography

Name: Kathryn Zimmerman

Pronouns: She/Hers

Job Title: DAI Coordinator 

Job Title if you Could Make Your Own: The Curator of Optimism 

In another life, Im pretty sure I was a: Gardening,Greyhound/Whippet/Italian Greyhound Rescue Home with acres of land (my retirement dream!)- that’s also near a Trader Joe’s 

On Sunday Mornings you can Usually find me: Sleeping in, working on home improvement projects, exploring for shells/sea glass on the coast, kayaking to Rose Island, or simply enjoying a quiet day in.

Name a few of your daily habits: Mindfully sipping on coffee/tea, playing music while I work, journaling before bed, and my favorite part, spending time with my other half and our dogs (Winnie and Elley, our Dog-ters). 

What was one of the biggest obstacles you had to overcome to accomplish your academic goals?

Student Teaching during my undergraduate studies- hands down! I loved it, but, my goodness, do I have respect and admiration for preschool/elementary teachers. It was a lot of work! After completing hundreds of hours in a developmental delay preschool, I will never look at construction paper, glue, or glitter the same! 

What advice would you give to your past self?

Don’t take everything so seriously and have more fun! I was a very quiet child, and often worried too much; I have grown to truly appreciate all the moments, no matter how big or small they are perceived to be. 

What is your favorite part about your job?

Since I began at URI, and even through the interview process, I have been supported, uplifted, and surrounded by wonderful humans. Between the amazing working teams and my love for disability, access, and inclusion work, and working/growing with students, I truly have the best of both worlds.