The HR Minute: Interviews

Meet Your HR Team

Mary Spring, Assistant Director, Employment Services

1. What is your job title?

Assistant Director of Employment Services, reporting to Devon Jinar.

2. What exactly do you do in your position?

“I am primarily engaged in employment onboarding. For example, I apply the final review and confirmation for Georgetown’s employment postings, intending an accurate and appealing invitation for job seekers, whose standard review time – per nationwide research info – for any ad is 30 seconds. I also manage the Background Check process in GU’s partnership with Hireright; and am engaged in the I-9 process for all new hires – students, faculty, and staff – an inbound process meant to be welcoming, timely and accurate. As well, I’m a member of the biweekly New Employee Orientation and its related monthly Campus Tour, hosted by the Learning & Development team – events that hold the distinct joy of welcoming newcomers to a career that is affirming for them and for their families.”

3. How long have you been at Georgetown University?

“Twenty years as of this month. I began in a temporary project – and at its end, I applied for and was selected for a regular role within University Human Resources.“

4. Why did you choose to serve at GU?

” I distinctly recall the prompt and smooth interview process for that initial temporary role, which held a four-month opportunity to review several hundred job descriptions, and then meet and interview staff members and supervisors on all campuses regarding those selected descriptions.

Our conversations about their responsibilities and the culture in which they carried out their duties gave me a clear appreciation of the work culture of Georgetown and its alignment with its overarching mission of cura personalis.”

5. What’s your hometown?

“Washington, DC! I was born at Georgetown; visited aunts,  uncles, and cousins here during every summer of my father’s Army career; and was assigned here twice myself before retiring from my own Army career.”

6. Educational Background

“A Bachelor’s degree from a Jesuit college – Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama (Go, Badgers!) – and thanks to Georgetown’s tuition assistance program, a Master’s in Business Administration!”

7. What are three fun facts that the Georgetown community may not know about you?

– “I sang in coffee houses during college.”

– “I have moved 57 times in my life (to date…).”

– “My wife Esther and I have been together for almost 29 years – and married for the most recent 10.”

8. What are some of your fondest memories of working at Georgetown?

1) “Francis Schemel, S.J., 1925 – 2018, Chaplain to the Staff; 2) Celebrations of service, within UHR and throughout GU; and 3) Georgetown’s response to COVID and the many enterprises established and carried out to assure confidence and continuity – cura personalis at full throttle.”

9. What will you take with you from your time at GU?

1) “The results of a well-managed retirement plan (thank you, Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits!); 2) memories and friendships to last a lifetime (and beyond, I believe); and 3) new membership in the Georgetown University Association of Retired Faculty and Staff!”

10. What were some of the most important lessons learned?

“I am going to repeat the three suggestions my father gave to me as I set out for Army basic training and which have not failed me when I use them: 1) Be 10 minutes early for everything (you get the vibe of the situation, which can often use a pair of helping hands); 2) Don’t make promises you can’t keep (know your own ability to follow through); and, 3) Never lean on the boss’s desk (keep a space for differentiation for each of you).”