Like Sands Through the Hourglass: Reflections on Five Years at Stanford University

 🕰️ “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” “Days” was one of my grandma’s favorite TV soap operas. I got hooked back in 1997-1999 starting with the “Secret Room” storyline. I would watch the show with her. Fast forward to April 2020 and the beginning of my role as an Associate Dean in Residential Education at Stanford University—at the start of the COVID-19 shutdown. Starting a new job (and essentially a new life) during this global pandemic and economic shutdown was one of the most disorienting challenges I’ve faced. Some moments flew by in a blur, while others dragged on, painfully slow. But now, five years later, I’ve grown a lot—personally and professionally. In honor of 5 years at Stanford, I am sharing 5 key lessons I’ve learned during my time here 🖐🏾:

1️⃣ Timing is everything.
People assign value to when they receive information. In large institutions, those who find out first often feel more important than those who learn later. Leadership doesn’t always control how news travels, but being mindful of when and how change is communicated can make a big difference in how news is received.

2️⃣ Everyone wears multiple hats—some fancy, some not.
There are brilliant people at Stanford doing brilliant things and there are mediocre people at Stanford doing mediocre things. Me? On any given day, I could be either brilliant or mediocre—one or the other, neither or both—this all depends on the day, and it depends on the task and who you ask. Not everything is excellent all the time and that's OK; mistakes are made and feathers are ruffled. Many people here are reconciling some element of imposter syndrome and this allows people to be very critical of others’ work; this is rooted in their own insecurity. I try to keep that in mind as I maintain relationships here.

3️⃣ Both productivity and relationships matter.
Both output and relationships are important to success. Talented people sometimes underestimate how intimidating their productivity is to others and they tend to foster their output more than their relationships. Folks who may not possess as much skill tend to focus more on their relationships, schmoozing with the right people and being nice in order to stay afloat or get ahead. Ultimately, the folks who have the most effective impact have a good balance of both skill and good relationships.

4️⃣ Bigger isn’t always better.
Bigger is not always better. Change at older, larger institutions happens slowly or not at all. Pack your patience.

5️⃣ It’s all about the money. 💰
Like any other 501 c3 non-profit, money is what makes everything happen.

Thanks to everyone who’s been part of this journey with me. Here's to growth and more lessons to come! ❤️

Originally published on LinkedIn.com - April 2025 

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Goodnight, Garfiled

February 7, 2025

After 15 years and 6 weeks, we lost Garfield 🐱. He was 20 years old. I adopted him in NYC 🗽 in 2009. He was my “from sea to shining sea” kitty🌈 🐾

hashtag#petloss hashtag#transition hashtag#rainbowbridge

The Rise of Stair Climbing as a Competitive Sport

Photo Credit: Ana Takahuwa

Orlando White is a resident of Palo Alto, California. He earned his master of public administration from the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and now serves as the associate dean of residential education at Stanford University, where he leads residential training efforts for undergraduate students. Although Orlando White struggled to find a fitness community that suited his interests, he now actively participates in competitive stair climbing.

Stair climbing, also called tower running, has become more popular as a sport in recent times. The goal is simple, race up the stairs of tall buildings as fast as possible. Stair climbing has drawn a committed group of athletes who relish the sport's challenge and unique physical demands.

Stair climbing differs from traditional sports because it does not require costly equipment or training facilities. Participants can locate a tall building with a staircase and begin climbing. Races usually hold in famous skyscrapers worldwide, such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. These events may range from a few hundred to thousands of participants, with athletes ranging from amateur enthusiasts to professional competitors.

Stair climbing requires a combination of strength, speed, and endurance. Climbing up numerous flights of stairs places significant strain on the legs, lungs, and heart. Athletes must maintain a consistent pace throughout the race, conserving energy while pushing themselves to their physical limits.

The sport has also drawn the attention of researchers, who have examined the physiological effects of stair climbing on the body. Studies have demonstrated that stair climbing can enhance cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and increase muscle strength and endurance.

Whether the aim is to establish a personal best time or simply complete the race, stair climbing presents a unique and fulfilling challenge. With its rising popularity, stair climbing has become a regular fixture in competitive athletics.

Photo Credit: Ana Takahuwa

A Look at Pet Ownership Statistics in the United States

 

Orlando White and his beloved cat Garfield on Garfield's birthday. 

In the United States, nearly 87-million households feature at least one pet; this equates to two out of every three homes. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet ownership in the United States has been on a sharp rise in recent years, increasing from 56 percent of US households in 1988. The nation’s continued interest in companion animals can also be seen in the success of the pet insurance industry, which doubled in size between 2018 and 2021.

Pet ownership statistics can be influenced by a number of factors. For example, 53 percent of American households include at least one dog, which equates to nearly three out of four pet households. However, when looking at homes with annual incomes of $100,000 or more, which make up the bulk of pet households, dog ownership falls slightly to 63 percent. Cat ownership, meanwhile, falls from 50 percent to 40 percent when looking at this specific economic bracket.

One potential reason for this shift is the availability of more diverse pet options for households with higher annual incomes. For instance, there are approximately 1.6 million horse-owning households in the United States. The average horse owner has an annual income of $211,738, more than double the national average US income in 2021. Furthermore, the average horse-owning household has not one but six horses, despite each individual animal costing up to $325 per month in expenses, compared to $43 per month for a medium-sized dog.

Pet ownership statistics also vary between homeowners and renters. Unsurprisingly, renters are less likely than property owners to own pets. What is more interesting is the fact that 94 percent of homeowners have at least one pet, indicating that companion animals are virtually ubiquitous among American families who have the opportunity to own their home. Dogs are especially popular, with just under three out of five homeowners having one or more canine companions in the house. The Labrador retriever has long ranked as the nation’s most popular dog breed.

The importance of pets in American culture can be further appreciated by examining pet trends between 2016 and 2020. Due to various economic hardships, including the COVID pandemic, American households could not afford to have as many pets as in previous years. Single-dog households increased from 60 to 65 percent among dog owners, and single-cat homes grew from 53 to 56 percent. But as the overall number of pets decreased, the total number of households with at least one pet continued to climb, underscoring America’s close bond with companion animals.

Pet ownership statistics in America can also change based on gender, age, and ethnicity. The familiar adage “dog is man’s best friend” is true in America, with an estimated 71 percent of American men between the ages of 18 and 44 owning one or more canines, compared to 60 percent of women. Men also own more cats, at 37 to 33 percent, including 46 percent of millennial men. Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are the most active pet owners in general, with 75 percent of Americans aged 30 to 39 owning a dog.

Just under two-thirds of white American households include pets, compared to 61.4-percent of Hispanic households and 36.9-percent of African American households.