Lisa Napier
Lisa is the “Snack Office Queen” and Faculty Assistant for Student Affairs.
Hi Lisa! Welcome to Hot Bench! For all our readers who might not know, Lisa holds court in the Student Affairs Office a.k.a. the Snack Office and is the friendly face of Student Affairs. Lisa, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I’ve been an employee of the University for thirty-two years and all but six of those years I’ve been at the Law School. My first job at the School was in Admissions. I worked there for four years and then I moved to Student Affairs. This was way back when we had only one building.
That’s right! The Law School used to be just Withers-Brown Hall. Was there a dedicated office for Student Affairs back then?
Yes, there was. The Office has really evolved over the years. Dean Harmon was my first Student Affairs Dean; she did a lot with student needs and she actually started the Peer Advisor Program. Just thinking about how that has evolved and grown . . . when we started, there were only twenty Peer Advisors.
When I first started, we dealt a lot with supporting students. Dean Harmon, at the time, had a degree in education and counseling, so she worked with in-house counseling and we worked a lot with people who had needs. We did a small amount with organization type things—at that point, if there was funding, we were not in control of that funding. But now, we have grown! Dr. Gibson is part of our team, and Kate and Dean Davies do a lot of academic counseling. Having the team come together, that was great.
What are some changes you’ve seen in the thirty-two years you’ve worked here?
I think, each year, we always see a difference in each one of the student classes. The difference in personality is just amazing.That’s always a change. And the technology at the school—going from where we started—oh my gosh, what is email? Back then we had two people in IT and when we got our first departmental email, wow. I think the technology is amazing and the [new] building.
In your own work, has that changed or shifted throughout the years?
Oh yeah, when I started, I wasn’t sitting in the same office as the Dean, so when we moved and got the open floor plan, I began to engage more with students. I used to be behind a wall and a little sliding window—like a dentist’s office!
So, colloquially, we all know the Student Affairs Office as the Snack Office. When did that start?
I think when Dean Davies came. At first we had some candy and then we realized it was a great way to get students engaged. Hopefully, we’ll still have people come in even if there are no snacks.
No snacks this year? :(
Yes, for safety, there will be no snacks this year. We miss it! We miss seeing everybody in that capacity.
What is your favorite thing about the Student Affairs Office?
Of course it’s the students—I love helping out any way I can and I love working with you guys.
Let’s do a lightning round!
Favorite place in Charlottesville?
C’ville Coffee—Toan and his wife own it and I love them.
Where is somewhere you haven’t been but would like to go?
You know, I’ve never been out west to Wyoming or Montana.
One song to play in the background of your life. What would you pick?
My go-tos are my Bon Jovi songs. I loved the big hair bands. “Living on a Prayer”—love it!
Pet peeve?
Okay, this will be funny [for Dean Davies]. I have this thing about when people call Dean Davies “Sarah.” It’s a respect thing. Not showing respect is one of my pet peeves.
Favorite phrase?
Bless your heart.
That can go different ways!
That’s true. Mine usually goes the good way.
What do you like to read?
I like mysteries.
If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what would it be?
Be kind to one another.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up local—lived all my life twenty-five miles south of here in Scottsville, Virginia. I grew up on a dairy farm. We lived in a very rural area, I came from a humble background—it was a treat for me to come to Charlottesville. We had wide open playing fields [in Scottsville], it was great. I still live in the area: my husband and I—and Sable, the dog (she’s a four year old Charcoal Lab).
Growing up, what did you want to be?
I wanted to be a teacher. At that time, scholarships weren’t as generous. I had what I needed but no extra—that’s why I went to associate’s college and got my degree in business administration instead.
What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I was an active EMT. My husband and I ran a rescue squad in Scottsville for twelve years. I’m still certified in the state of Virginia, because you never know what might happen. I was motivated because of my brother; he passed of a massive heart attack at thirty-two. And we didn’t have a squad in our rural area. I decided then that that’s what I wanted to do. And then I got hooked and became an adrenaline junkie.
What’s your favorite thing about the Law School?
I think the close-knitness—not just of the students, but the faculty and staff. We’re like a big family and I really love that. I’ve always felt that here.
As our parting shot, what would you like to tell all the students?
We wish you all the very best. Stay safe during all this and I hope to see each and everyone of you very soon. Just stop by and say hello!
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lnapier@law.virginia.edu