Tamika Craige, Growing With Duke

Name: Tamika Craige

Title: Staff Specialist for the Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) at the Pratt School of Engineering

Years at Duke: 15

What I do at Duke is: The billing, invoicing, accounting and administrative tasks for the Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility. We have instruments that faculty and students from all over the University can use to do experiments involving analyzing or making different materials, and we bill for the time. I've only been in this job since July 5, so I'm still learning about all the different instruments and machines. I didn't even know about what they do over here until I started this job.

When I'm not at work, I like to: Relax and read, spend time with my three kids, and visit relatives. I was born and raised in Durham, so I have lots of family here.

My first ever job was: Working at the Bojangles' out on Roxboro Road, near Northern High School. 

My dream job is: A job where I can come and go when I want and keep my own schedule. Flexibility is important, especially since my children may need me at any given moment.

What I love about Duke is: The stability of Duke, and the opportunity to advance and grow. I started at the DCRI (Duke Clinical Research Institute) as a clerk III, and when I got my first promotion to an administrative assistant, I was so excited. Since then, I've worked my way up through three other jobs by providing satisfying results and letting my supervisor know I am interested in more responsibilities. I take advantage of the classes Duke offers on things like computer programs. I was able to get the staff specialist job I am in now because I took classes about SAP. I was using it before, but I needed to know more to be able to handle a job like this. 

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me, they should ask me about: Anything. I'm a people person, so if someone says 'hi' I'll start a conversation.

If I had $5 million, I would: Invest it. Years ago I might have said go shopping or buy a new car, but now I'd say invest it.

If I could have one superpower, it would be: The ability to make little things happen, like in "Bewitched." 

The best advice I ever received was: To not sweat the small stuff. Sometimes I can worry about things to the point where it messes up my whole day. My family and friends keep saying, 'you can't change it, so don't worry about it.'  

The most recent book I read was: "What Would Jesus Do" by Charles Sheldon, about a congregation that takes on a challenge to respond to their daily tasks as Jesus would respond. It was awesome to think about Christians demonstrating the love of Jesus through their actions. 

Something most people don't know about me is: I like to dance. It doesn't matter what kind of music. If I hear music, I'm just bopping to the beat.

Tamika Craige was nominated as a Blue Devil of the Week by a Duke colleague. Do you have someone special in mind for Blue Devil of the Week? Nominate your colleague.