Odalys joined ITS back when it was known as Office of Administrative Computing, and she was one of only two women on staff. In the decades since, she's seen both the department and her role within it expand beyond what she could have imagined. Today, she's responsible for recovering funds for all of the many services ITS provides, and serves on a team of eight extraordinary women who make sure the department and its finances run smoothly.
Thanks for meeting with me today, Odalys. How have you been, what's new?
Well, I am retiring this year.
Wow! I'm so glad we got to feature you before the big day. When is your official retirement date?
Likely in the beginning of 2025.
That's exciting, congratulations!
Thank you. I will have given Cornell 26 1/2 years when I retire.
What’s next?
I am thinking about becoming a traveling nomad. I’ll travel the world and stay two or three months in each place. I have no idea; I do know that I will be exploring and spending time with family and friends.
Odalys ziplining in Mexico
What would your first stop be?
Maybe Portugal, then on to Japan. and every other country or island I haven’t gone to. I’m going to leave that up to God. Because, let me tell you, I believe that when you ask from your heart, he’ll give you an answer. It never fails.
Odalys traveling in Hawaii
Where are you based now?
I live in the Bronx, born and raised.
How did you get your start with ITS?
I started 26 years ago when I was in my late 30s. There were maybe 25 to 30 people in the whole department. I was hired as an Administrative Aide to Dr. Steven Erdy. He was the Director of what was then OAC, before it became ITS.
What were you doing before that?
I had been working for the department of Housing Preservation and Development – I was a 311 operator there for 10 years.
And what is that department?
The complaints department. It was intense.
I bet it’s intense!
People think that you’re the one who turns your heat on. I used to be the face of the department. There was a time when I was on TV, which I hated! Because people would recognize me in the street, and sometimes it would be unpleasant.
Do you remember some of the complaints you got?
I remember all of them! The majority were heat and hot water. And a lot were structural – the ceilings are collapsing, the floors are collapsing. It was very sad. I did that for about ten years and then I said, you know, this is not for me.
And how did you land this job?
I had a friend who works as the manager in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cornell, and she said “you should be working here, you have a lot of skills.” She saw that there was a position available for an assistant in OAC, and she asked the manager of the department to interview me. And the manager said, “well, I’ve actually hired someone for the position, some guy, but you know what if she comes in tomorrow, I’ll interview her.” So, I went in and interviewed with her early that day, and by the time I got home, there was a message on my answering machine saying, “we really liked you and we want to hire you.” And I was so happy. It was a really big deal at the time.
I was nervous, because I didn’t know how to do technical things…and then the manager had the nerve to leave me by myself for three weeks because she got married. It was do or die! But she said “I have faith in you. I hired you for a reason because I know that you're capable and that you can do this.” She and I were the only two females in the department at the time, which wasn’t always easy. But I started to teach myself what OAC was all about and the role of our department in the college. Back then we were very small. It was basically just the web group, server and Network group and our technicians, and that was it.
Odalys with a few original OAC staff, Maria Aponte (Application Support Analyst) and MaryAnne Dalangin (former member of the PMO)
What are some of the major changes you’ve seen in the department?
In 26 years, I’ve seen our hierarchy change quite often. Our identity changed from OAC to ITS. I think the structure of every individual group within ITS has made its own changes and additions.
What did OAC stand for?
Office of Academic Computing. But they changed it because the department began to handle more than computing for Academics, and we started offering additional services and support.
All decked out at an ITS Holiday Party
How did your role expand over the years?
Well, at first, I was just a glorified secretary, but then I finished my degree in Administration and Psychology, and then I started learning how to use our applications and databases, educating myself in finances. I went from Administrative Assistant to Financial Analyst. I made it my business to learn about our recoveries and billing, and how the whole process worked. This led to my most recent promotion and current role.
What is your current title and role?
Now I’m a Revenue Administrator. I recover funds from outside entities which use our services, in addition to the monthly reconciliations of Auxiliary charges that are uploaded to SAP. I correct errors, credit accounts, recover costs for services we currently provide.
On the way up to see a beautiful Buddha in Thailand
Who are some women you admire and why?
Throughout the years we’ve had good administrators who made positive changes. I’ve had good experiences with each one of them. Currently, my admiration is for the entire finance group of women who I have the pleasure of working with. In particular, Ilva Lifa is a world of knowledge. She absorbs information and retains it, and not just the finance group, which is her baby, but the entire ITS department. She observes all our strengths and doesn’t fail to remind us of the great job we’re doing. Most of all, she is interested in what we think and will often ask if there are ways to improve the individual work we do. She has faith in us. We work as a group helping each other when needed. It’s because of her that we’re now called the Administrative Financial Group. There are eight women in our group and every woman in the group is just a whiz. I’m not saying we’re perfect but…we’re kind of perfect!
A few members of ITS Finance and Administration making sure the lights stay on
What if someone had said to you, way back when you started in OAC as one of two women in the department, that by the time you retired you’d be on a team of eight women? What would you have said?
Hey…power to us! You know, I believe this of the eight women in this group and I believe this of women in every avenue of life – we do rule. Because we’re orderly and organized, and we have that feminine touch. We’re mothers at heart, right? So, we treat things in that way. We take care of. Our whole group takes care of ITS.
What is some advice you would give someone building their career in ITS?
Know your position back and forth, inside out. Know it well, develop it, and put it out there. Then it becomes yours. You're an expert at it, because you created it.
Odalys In Arizona with Gabbie, the manager who hired her at WCM