As the Graduate Admissions Systems Analyst, Eric works to ensure that Slate records are maintained in an accurate and efficient way. He monitors imports and exports, maintains mailings and reports, and ensures fields and queries are working correctly within the relational database. He also provides support for Slate users within the Graduate School and individual programs. Eric earned a B.S. in Math Education with a Minor in Spanish from Bethel University in Indiana. He then spent ten years working as a teacher and administrator for an alternative high school before joining the Graduate School in 2021. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Eric!
BearTracks
Tell me a little bit about you as a human on earth and about your role in the
Graduate School.
Eric Hooley
So I’ve lived in Texas for four years, more or less; I’m from the Midwest prior to that. A proud Hoosier, just like Laura Sepanski. Here in the Grad School, I am in charge of Slate, which is our admissions software, essentially. I’m not the one making admissions decisions, but I’m helping the processes that facilitate that happening. Each department does their own review of applications and makes those decisions. Our job is to make sure that applicants can apply efficiently and that the departments can review efficiently.
BT
I believe that your informal title around the office is “Slate Captain” but what is your formal title?
EH
Graduate Admissions Systems Analyst. Slate Captain is a lot more fun.
BT
Yeah, Captain is way more fun. The other one makes you sound like a nerd.
How did you end up in this position?
EH
Well in my previous job back in the Midwest, I was doing similar things to what I do now, though not to the level of technicality in this role. I was working for a school back in Indiana, but all the work was remote. And I wanted to get away from the working from home part. There were some good things about it, some bad things about it, but I wanted to get back into an office. And when I was on the Baylor website looking into job openings, this one jumped out because it mirrored what I’d been doing before, but with an advancement in technical abilities.
BT
What is your favorite thing about your job?
EH
It’s just the same as everyone so far. It’s the people here and the community. My first or second day of work in the grad school was the first day of our annual summer staff retreat. So my first three days were essentially retreat. You really get to know people. It was really great. I think as far as my work itself, my favorite part is when someone comes to me and asks for something that they think is impossible or way too complicated, and I can figure out a way to make it work.
BT
Like when Becca Cassady and I asked you to create the Graduate Writing Center portal?
EH
Exactly. And I can figure out how to build a process specifically for them that helps their job become 10 times easier than it was before.
BT
I do spend significantly less time managing appointments now, thanks to your work.
What do you wish more graduate students knew about the graduate school?
EH
Again, it’s been said before, but I think it’s all the support that’s offered to them during their time as a graduate student. I think of what Dr. Dolan and Laura Sepanski, you and others do to make all of these resources; there’s just a lot of things going on like seminars, events, lots of things that some people know about, but a lot of people don’t. Looking for those events would be really beneficial for more graduate students.
BT
Do you have a favorite Baylor event?
EH
My favorite event is probably the family night that they do every year for faculty, staff, and their families. It’s over in Touchdown Alley, and they have some food trucks, and they show a movie on the big screen in the stadium afterwards for the kids. It’s really fun. We’ve gone twice, and it feels nice to be appreciated by the university.
BT
What movie did they play last year?
EH
Encanto was last year. That’s a really good one, it’ll get you every time.
BT
Put you in your feels!
How about a particular resource you wish graduate students used more?
EH
I mean, the GWC is pretty useful. I think a lot of people view it as like, if I suck at writing, I should go here. That’s not necessarily the case. I mean, if you do, you should.
BT
Yeah, please come to us no matter what!
EH
But I even think of the seminars that are put on, the workshops. You guys organize these events all the time. Yeah. So it’s not one specific thing; there’s just lots of information that’s being made available. Take advantage of this!
BT
Couldn’t agree more.
Can you give me a fun fact about yourself?
EH
Fun fact about myself… so I was at a Notre Dame football game once, in the student section, and we were very excited, jumping around, and we broke the bench we were standing on. The Notre Dame stadium seats were made out of wood, back in the day, and so I just took a piece with me and it’s right there on my office shelf.
BT
Wow! I did always wonder what that was.
EH
Yeah. A piece of Notre Dame Stadium lore that will forever be mine.
BT
How did you sneak that out of there? That thing is not small…
EH
I just sort of I just, on the way out, well, you’re in a crowd so you just kind of walk and act like you know what you’re doing, and no one’s gonna question it.
BT
Wow. I feel like that leads very well into my next question: what advice would you give to grad students? Walk confidently?
EH
Walk confidently!
BT
Haha, but really, what advice would you give?
EH
So, my wife has her doctorate, and she was in school for a long time. I think my advice, after watching her go through grad school, is to not take your time in school for granted. I think a lot when you’re in school, it’s chaotic and busy and stressful and terrible, honestly. But someday those days are going to be over, and you’re going to back fondly on the on the times that you’ve had. So enjoy the ability to learn and have that be your job. Take advantage of the time that you have here, because it is limited.
BT
Okay, last question. You know what’s coming. Who’s your favorite staff member?
EH
I feel like I need to say Laura, because she said me.
BT
Yeah. But, also you owe her NOTHING. Just kidding.
EH
I think that as as a fellow Hoosier, she already knows she has my loyalty. I don’t think I have an individual favorite staff member. I will say I work really closely with the admissions team, Tosha Hendrickson, Dana Matthews, Alanna Martinez, and Dr. Rios. And I really appreciate the work they do on helping students get into grad school and facilitating that process, so I’m gonna go with them.