Have you met Leandro?

What is your official job title?  

I am the Academic Department Manager for the Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

How would you describe your role to people who do not work in your field?

My role includes managing department operations, finances and human resources. Day-to-day, it involves helping trainees, staff and faculty members get the support they need to do their work, sometimes through our administrative staff and sometimes by being the intermediary between the department and the corresponding FoMD or central unit. I also help with long-term planning to keep each department functioning successfully into the future.

What is one thing you like about working in the FoMD?

The people I work with have always been amazing and have made me feel welcome and supported. It is also very uplifting and encouraging to see the quality of research being done by both faculty members and students. In particular, when I have the chance to see research projects progress and get closer to something everyone will benefit from, it makes the future seem a bit brighter.

How long have you worked at the U of A?

I came to the U of A as a graduate student in 2004, and since 2014, I have worked in various roles involving research, project management and administration. In these roles, I've been fortunate to be a part of various units, including the Department of Medicine, U of A International and the Department of Emergency Medicine.

What's something you like to do for fun?

On weekends and the occasional weekday, I enjoy going out with my family for dinner or to whatever event is taking place in Edmonton at the time. When at home, I like playing with my kids, especially the little one who keeps trying to get into all sorts of trouble, as toddlers often do. To relax, I enjoy playing video games, drawing and baking. My wife and I also enjoy watching new TV series, or if we want something a bit more nerve-wracking, catching the Oilers trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat with late-game heroics to make up for earlier mistakes.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself?

Despite originally being from Mexico, I can't tolerate any hot or spicy food, and I'll take extreme cold over extreme heat any time.