Photo by Doug Prince,
UNH Photo Services

In 1986, Peggy Barry answered an employment advertisement in Foster's Daily Democrat for a position in the UNH News Bureau, and she's been a fixture at UNH ever since.

After working as a Secretary in the News Bureau for two years, Peggy then worked for over ten years as an Administrative Assistant in the Dean's Office in the School of Health and Human Services. In 1998, she took an Administrative Assistant position in UNH Human Resources for two years before assuming her current position as an Administrative Assistant in Dimond Library.

When asked what skills were needed for her current position, Peggy responded "a sense of humor, organizational, computer and people skills, the ability to multitask and work well under pressure, while being tolerant of many interruptions. Also an understanding of Human Resource issues and the importance of confidentiality." She is exceptionally well suited to the position; "I really enjoy contact with the students, faculty and staff and the variety of duties and responsibilities of the Administrative Assistant positions at UNH," she says. "Working with people from both on-campus and the outside community is one of the most satisfying components of my job."

While providing administrative support for the University Library, Peggy's responsibilities involve being a personnel liaison, including coordinating orientation for new library employees. She manages library calendars (including conference room scheduling), the Courtyard Reading Room, and also manages the library's facilities, housekeeping and maintenance issues. Peggy coordinates visits for outside groups and individuals. Peggy is often the first contact for library visitors and UNH staff.

When asked who or what at UNH has had a positive impact on her, Peggy's response was "there have been 4 people who have had a positive impact on me. Phyllis Hoff, who was the first Associate Dean of SHHS I worked with and who has since passed away. Karol LaCroix, the former Associate Dean of SHHS. She helped me to realize my potential. Neil Vroman, the present Associate Dean of SHHS. He taught me a team approach. And Claudia Morner, who has allowed me to grow in my present position."

A Newmarket resident, Peggy's time away from work is often spent reading, traveling (she's taken a Bermuda cruise, a Boston Harbor cruise, been to Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada), and "spending lots of time spoiling my granddaughter" (Lauren, age 3).