Snapshot:
Diane Wildman

Position: Administrative Manager, Scripps Florida campus

Responsibilities: Hiring, training, and supervising all academic administrative assistants and acting as a training resource for all non-academic administrative assistants, including groups such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities, and Procurement.

Started at Scripps Research: December 2006, as an administrative assistant in the Department of Cancer Biology. She was promoted to Scripps Florida administrative manager in January 2008.

Background: Wildman grew up in Bridgeville, PA, a small suburb 10 miles southwest of Pittsburgh International Airport. "From the time I was 13, I decided I wanted to follow in my mother's footsteps and become a secretary." During her senior year of high school, she was selected for a school-work program and worked at Marsh & McLennan while completing school. Upon graduation, the firm offered her full-time employment, which she accepted. Since then, her 40-year-business career has included jobs as an executive assistant in a number of different industries including banking, the import-export field, and manufacturing.

What Attracted Her to Scripps Research: "The very first time I read about the possibility that Scripps Research was going to open a Florida campus, I was fascinated by the idea of working here. In fact, I remember telling my husband that I was going to get a job here. As it turned out, the company I was employed with closed, and I immediately got on the Scripps Research employment site to apply for the administrative assistant position in the Department of Cancer Biology."

Goals: "I want to make sure that the administrative assistants have the best information possible to perform their jobs and to follow Scripps Research administrative guidelines."

Thoughts on Scripps Florida: "This is such an exciting place to work right now. With the move to the new facilities and extremely heavy recruitment for new scientists to join Scripps Florida, we are all challenged on a daily basis. It's a great time not only for the Scripps Florida campus, but also for everyone who lives and works in Palm Beach County. I am proud to work with such a professional team, and to be able to make whatever contribution I can to ensure the institute's continuing success."

Extracurriculars: Cooking, reading, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and taking trips in the RV. "Every chance we get, my husband and I love to load up the RV and our dog, and go camping. We especially like Henderson Beach State Park located in the Panhandle of Florida."

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

"I am proud to work with such a professional team, and to be able to make whatever contribution I can to ensure the institute's continuing success," says Administrative Manager Diane Wildman.