Meet Gina Espinoza: OCM Specialist

 

Gina’s NGN Journey: As an OCM Specialist, Gina works closely with stakeholders to ensure smooth transitions during the migration process. Her primary responsibilities include engaging with building representatives, developing tailored communication strategies, and maintaining community involvement throughout the migration process. Gina’s keen eye for systems building and process streamlining has already contributed to enhancing the efficiency of the NGN project. Her creative talents shine through in her ability to design compelling visuals that simplify complex processes, making her contributions both impactful and engaging.

 

The University Experience: For Gina, being part of the NGN team at Yale is a fulfilling experience. She loves the academic environment and the sense of camaraderie that comes with it. The NGN team’s supportive and collaborative nature makes every challenge an opportunity for growth. Gina is particularly proud of the team’s positive culture and the respect and appreciation they have for each other's hard work.

 

Innovations and Achievements: Gina is excited about the improvements NGN will bring to Yale, especially the enhanced ability to monitor and address network issues promptly. One of her favorite projects was creating the NGN poster for Yale’s One IT Conference and the NGN Is Coming flyer featuring Yale’s mascot, Handsome Dan. Her creative work, including logo designs and designing for a new animated video, has significantly contributed to the project’s success and visibility.

 

Valuable Lessons: Gina’s guiding principle is to "treat others as you'd like to be treated." This ethos permeates her work and personal life, and she sees it reflected in the NGN team’s values.

Beyond the Office: Outside of work, Gina is a passionate oil painter, with a website showcasing her artwork (www.ginaespinoza.com). Her piece “Octopocalypse” is a 30” x 40” oil painting she’s been working on over the years and hopes to finish this year – talk about making a splash! Gina’s love for travel has taken her to Cyprus, Amsterdam, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kenya, Paris, Brussels, Tulum, Lisbon, Madrid, New Orleans, and soon, London and Porto. She also enjoys live music and comedy shows. Some of her recent shows have been Alanis Morissette, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Doja Cat. Gina has been a vegan for 14 years and her favorite restaurant is Dirt Candy in Manhattan. She and her partner, Val, try to catch every season’s menu there! 

 

Favorites and Fun Facts: Gina’s favorite movie is "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark," and she loves "Star Trek: The Next Generation"(A great name, right?!). She enjoys indie music, with Perfume Genius as her current favorite. A fun fact about Gina is that she was born in Cincinnati, grew up in Fullerton, California, has lived in the Bay Area and New York City, and now resides in Nanuet, NY, with her partner, Alex, and their two kids, Miles (11) and Dylan (7). Gina balances her time between Nanuet and NYC where her other partner, Val, lives. She’s also a proud plant mom and has embraced challenges like skydiving and performing at an open mic, despite her (self-declared) lack of musical talent. However, her greatest feats are her two children, who were born weighing over nine and ten pounds!