Employee Focus on Carol Wilcox

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name: Carol Wilcox
Current title: Executive Assistant
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Upper Arlington, Ohio
Degrees and institutions attended: BS in Education, The Ohio State University
Years of employment at the college: 29

Q&A

What brought you to the College of Optometry?

After graduating from Ohio State, I moved to Houston to teach. I lasted two years in the classroom. During my time at Ohio State as a student, I worked in the graduate school and continuing education, and I missed the higher education academic atmosphere. My bonus dad was a department chair at the University of Houston, and he and my mom were good friends with the dean of optometry. A little networking helped land a job at U of H optometry where I stayed for 10 years before moving back to Columbus. After a brief time in a private optometric practice, I interviewed at the College of Optometry and was offered the opportunity to join fellow Buckeyes. That was 29 years ago.

Describe your typical day at work or describe your position/role.

Each day in the dean’s office is a little different. I might be entering spend authorizations in Workday, or scheduling meetings for the dean, or ordering food for a college event. With my many years of experience and historical knowledge about the college, I am often an encyclopedia for colleagues.

What brings you the most joy in your work?

I’m not sure I have succeeded, but when I first moved to the dean’s office, I wanted to be like Radar O’Reilly. Those of you who may be too young to know who that is, Google it. The days when everything falls into place are good days.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I became a grandmother on July 20, 2023, which is also my birthday, to a little boy, Beau, who stole my heart and won’t give it back. I love spending time with him, his parents, my husband and my sister. That is the extent of my immediate family, except my mom who lives in Atlanta. My husband and I like walking in the Metro parks, especially in the fall. We were married in October and try to find a new park for an anniversary walk each year.

What is your go to Columbus/neighborhood eatery?

The Northstar Café in Beechwold is a favorite. Whenever my daughter and I have lunch, it’s always at Northstar. We don’t know how to lunch anyplace else. And then there is pizza.