A Life Without Duke? Unimaginable

Name: Iryna MerenbloomPosition: Assistant dean for budgets and finance, The Graduate SchoolYears at Duke: 13

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What I do at Duke: I sort out fellowships, grants and other kind of support for tuition fees and stipends for graduate students. I make sure those funds are posted to accounts correctly, which can be challenging and complicated because it involves a lot of university and federal regulations. I also prepare budgets for the schools and departments that have graduate programs and The Graduate School.

If I had $5 million, I would: Create an endowment for graduate students in humanities. It takes them a long time to graduate and they can have financial challenges. It’s important for them to have support.

My first ever job: In my hometown of Kharkov, Ukraine, I was a typist for the city mayor during the summer in high school. I studied typewriting at school, and employers would come recruit us. It wasn’t a big deal or anything very complicated. The mayor’s secretary would give me something to type, I would type for four hours straight and then go home.

My dream job: It might sound hokey, but I already have a dream job. I used to be a programmer and then a chief accountant in my home country, and then I came here and started as a sales person in a department store. When I came to Duke, I started as a receptionist at the Bursar’s Office and now I’m an assistant dean. In my current position, I get to use my programming, accounting, and people skills to my full potential.

Iryna shows off one of her roughly 100 pairs of shoes. "I grew up in a culture where how you look and dress is very important," she said. Photo courtesy of Iryna Merenbloom.

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me: ‘Where did you get those cute shoes?’ I have about 100 pairs, so my husband built me an additional shoe shelf. I grew up in a culture where how you look and dress is very important, and I don’t want to give that up. My favorite pair is some Ann Taylor high heels because they’re very versatile and go with different outfits.

The best advice I ever received: To apply for a job at Duke. When I moved to America, I wasn’t sure how to live in this country and wasn’t sure if anybody would hire me because I didn’t know the culture and my language skills were poor. My son insisted that I look for a job at Duke, and he helped me apply. I can’t imagine how my life would be now if I didn’t work at Duke.

What I love about Duke: The diversity, inclusiveness and open-mindedness. Duke really cares for its people and their wellbeing.

Something most people don’t know about me: I was trained to be a rocket scientist. I have a degree in mechanical engineering from Kharkov Polytechnic University, where I studied flight dynamics and control. I never worked in the field because the KGB wouldn’t give me a security clearance.

An interesting/memorable day at work for me: I came from a culture where we don’t have Halloween, so when I moved to American I thought it was amusing, but I wasn’t excited about it. For years, I didn’t think costume parties would be fun, but then last year at The Graduate School we all dressed up as Wizard of Oz characters. I was Glenda the Good Witch. I had a costume for the first time in my life. It was so much fun I can’t wait until next Halloween to see what we’ll come up with.