Dr Jessica Marin-Ulloa

Darwin NT

Bachelor of Commerce 2000

Jessica Marin-Ulloa used her Bachelor of Commerce degree to kickstart her career in the Northern Territory.  Today Dr Marin-Ulloa is the College Manager, College of Engineering, IT and Environment at Charles Darwin University.  Here is her story:

On campus study or online study? How was your experience studying either on campus or online?

I studied externally! There was no such thing as online at the time.  We were sent massive folders with all the course notes and reading materials. Everything was through the post and as such discussions with your lecturer were not really feasible.

I think an online link was established at the end of my degree but certainly nothing like it is now.  Although UNE gave me my first email address!

How did you find your UNE lecturers/professors?

Mostly great.  I wish I had better memory to remember names but we had a great Statistics lecturer from the USA and a lady that taught organisational behaviour who was also excellent.   On the other hand if you had a disagreement with a mark and the like, you had to wait until you went for residentials to discuss.  In my case it could only be the semester after, so the marks were already submitted and nothing could be done.

What was your end goal when you started your degree?

To graduate! I was a single mum at the time so studying, working and looking after toddlers was a juggling act.  I was also relatively recent arrival and had no other family in Australia.

How are you using what you learned in your degree in your professional life?

All the time.  My first role was as a graduate with the Department of Defence and I then had a very good career with the Federal and later the NT Governments.  I moved onto studied a masters and a doctorate were my research linked to my first degree, and now I worked with the tertiary education sector.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

To continue to build on my knowledge and experience and to support and mentor others on their own careers.

What does living in the NT mean to you?

Lifestyle, weather and community.  The NT community is welcoming and positive. The community is very multicultural and we have the enormous advantage of having access to rich traditional knowledge and culture.

Anything else you would like to add.

I remember my years at UNE fondly. I loved going to residential schools, at times even with my children! I generally stayed at Austin College and remember having the facility of the pool and gym, so I was able to exercise before lectures, something that I could not manage with the children back at home in Sydney.

I made one special last trip for my graduation ceremony.