Lorrie Shepard, Dean of the School of Education. (File photo)

They lead major academic divisions and shape the direction and quality of programs for faculty, staff and students. In this series, "In the Spotlight," we ask CU-Boulder deans to give us a glimpse into their personalities by answering questions aimed at providing a unique perspective on "the person behind the desk."  Part two of this series features Lorrie Shepard, dean of the School of Education.

In the Spotlight With Lorrie Shepard 

1. Outside of work, what do you spend the most time thinking about and why?

Outside of work, I think about my husband, my kids, my parents, playing soccer and my garden. Because I love them all. My husband, Jim, is a physicist and crazy mountain biker. He doesn't follow rules very well and is amused at being "arm candy" to the dean. Our three children live in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Seattle, frustratingly long distances away. When we are all together the laughter never stops. A wedding last September and another in March are joyous high points. Grandchildren are in our future. My parents are in their mid-80s and knew they needed to begin to make adjustments for their old-age. So, they moved to Virginia to be near my brother and bought a half acre of land to maintain. God, bless them. I play soccer twice a week with young players who are incredibly tolerant. In the winter I play indoors with a group of teachers who keep me up on gossip from the school district. I love the flowers and the dirt in my garden and the exhilaration of the exhausting work, hard to explain if it's not your thing, but it's wonderful. I feel enormously blessed to live in Colorado and I treasure all of the remarkable friends I have come to know here.

2. If you could teach one thing about life, what would it be and why?

I think you can tell from my comment before that my parents are both incredibly hard working. They taught me that all of our work is worthwhile - cooking breakfast, making the bed, going to school, doing your job, tending your garden. If you do each task well, your life will be fulfilling. It certainly worked for me. I think that's what I'd pass on to others.