Meet ICD's new Department Administrator Abigail Alves
ICD is thrilled to welcome our new Department Administrator, Abigail Alves. We asked Abigail to introduce herself and share a little more about what drew her to ICD.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi y’all! Let me take you on a little journey…I am a North Carolina transplant where I completed my undergraduate in Recreation Therapy at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This propelled me out west to Utah where I worked at a non-profit organization with individuals with disabilities in the adaptive outdoor recreation space. I was far from home and missed my family, which is how I landed in Minneapolis where one of my sisters lived and worked at the University…the rest is history! I fell in love with Minnesota and the people, started a family, and have planted my transplant roots in the land of 10,000 lakes :)
What was your previous role before joining ICD?
Before joining ICD, I worked within the Department of Medicine in the Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (PACCS) division as the Operations Manager. My job was a great many things, from executive support to the Division Director and his many leadership roles within our Joint Clinical Enterprise (JCE) with Fairview and UMP, to supervising administrative staff, operations and project management, being the HR liaison, T32 Training Grant management, and go-to for troubleshooting all things tech problems. There was simply one thing I was missing…(see below).
Abigail Alves
What drew you to this position and what are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Many things drew me to the position of Department Administrator at the Institute of Child Development. I am inspired by the faculty and their impactful research, the department’s dedication to advancing knowledge in child development and its commitment to DEIA and antiracism. And of course, the students, the future practitioners and leaders in this field! The opportunity to foster a supportive environment where they can thrive and be prepared for meaningful careers, that is what I am most looking forward to as it involves the ICD community as a whole!
What inspires you most about working to support the fields of early childhood education and developmental psychology?
Besides my love for children, I am inspired by the incredible impact that early experiences have on our lifelong development. The foundation built during those formative years shapes so much of who we become as adults—our resilience, empathy, ability to learn and adapt. I feel honored to support our faculty, staff, and students in the fields of early childhood education and developmental psychology as it’s a chance to help create positive trajectories that can last a lifetime!
What is your favorite fall or winter activity?
Besides biking and chasing fall leaves visiting state parks, the MN Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular event is one of my favorite fall activities.