Marquette Rogers, End User Support Operations Lead, OIIT
In OIIT, Marquette manages the technicians that support ORF, ORS and the NIH Children's Inn staff with their computer and technology needs. He first learned about NIH in the early 2000's from a fellow colleague at the Washington National Opera. Marquette came to NIH as a contractor in 2008 and returned in 2019 to work within ORS. Marquette's favorite thing about ORS is the overall communication that we have between staff with, “positive relationships between federal staff and contract staff, which all trickles down from our excellent leadership."
His favorite project was in March 2021 when a group of ORS staff came together to create an interactive way to engage during the height of the pandemic. Marquette and team created the OD/ORS “Out to Lunch" program. As he states, “We had good participation across all divisions and clusters, and it was uplifting for everyone." Marquette's proudest moment in his career was when he had the opportunity to work at the White House in the Executive Office in 2009. As an Apple systems engineer, the White House needed to integrate their technology into the Apple enterprise. As Marquette states, “Traveling among the old and new Executive Offices was a wonderful experience when social media was becoming a bigger part of everyone's lifestyle. I was also honored to work with the team that created whitehouse.gov."
If he wasn't in IT, Marquette would be advocating for social services, affordable housing and environmental issues. He serves at the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Social Services and as President of the MD Association of Social Services Board. Marquette also serves on the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, addressing various state-wide issues regarding pedestrian safety, pathways and bike trails. When he is not volunteering or working, Marquette enjoys spending time with his twins and wife, catching a favorite show or sports. He is also trained as a classical singer and studied voice at the Duke Ellington School for Performing Arts. Theatre and performing arts are near and dear to his heart.
Nancy Muir, Branch Chief, NIH Library Educational Services
When Nancy joined the NIH Library in January 2021, she was excited to be part of a library known for their innovation. The teams Nancy works closely with include the Library training program and outreach to the NIH researchers and HHS policymakers. She is also the liaison for the Library's Communication and Marketing Team and the Systematic Reviews Team. Nancy enjoys her ORS colleagues and getting to know our people better. During the pandemic, the NIH Library had the opportunity to be a part of the distribution team for COVID-19 antigen home test kits. Through that process, Nancy got to know a lot of the ORS staff and as she states, “The team effort was impressive with a short turn around. Everyone pitched in and the project had both high visibility and a high impact on our community."
Nancy's first exposure to NIH was during her master's degree at the University of Maryland in Library Science when she worked on a project for the NIH Library. The proudest moment in her career was during the anthrax scare in 2001. Nancy was working at the FDA Library and the medicines to treat anthrax were not yet labeled for use in children. She was able to be a part of the team that worked to change the labeling for safe use in children. Nancy's favorite career project was at MedImmune (now AstraZeneca) where she established the MedImmune Corporate Library and Information Center as the Director for Learning, Standards, and Insights. Nancy's team successfully built the biologic business unit's intranet over the course of nine months and was recognized by the scientists with the only annual peer award given to a team that year.
Nancy is motivated each day by learning something new, something challenging or by meeting a new person. If she had an alternative career, Nancy would be a travel agent! She loves to travel and has lived abroad in both Bonn, Germany for four years and in London, England for two years. As she jokes, “My family and friends think that I seem to like living in places called London as I was born in London, Ohio and lived in London, England. Maybe London, Ontario is in my future?" In her free time, Nancy loves to play pickleball, bake and she is a confirmed chocoholic. She's thankful to have two grown sons who are pursuing their own careers, but still enjoy traveling with mom and dad at least once a year.
Samantha (Sam) Hughes, Deputy Director, Division of Emergency Management
Sam's office manages emergency preparedness and response programs that support the safety and security of the NIH community, and her team ensures that the NIH can continue essential functions during emergencies. Sam got her education from the Coast Guard Academy and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In the Coast Guard, her assignments ranged from being a helicopter pilot to a search and rescue planner and a contingency planner. Sam's career is founded on public service and saving those in peril. As she states, “Becoming an emergency manager here at NIH was the most natural transition, and I know I'm in the right place. ORS has some of the most selflessly dedicated people that I have ever met."
The proudest moment in Sam's career was learning some unexpected new skillsets during the pandemic. As Sam stated, “I have never had experience in data management or epidemiology and in the summer of 2020, I found myself immersed in both. I taught myself how to use data visualization software to build graphs showing trends in cases, positivity rates and vaccination rates. Knowing that all the hard work was helping our leadership make informed decisions during the pandemic was immensely rewarding."
When Sam has 30 minutes of free time, she loves to roller skate. Last year, she picked it up and started practicing in her house, on outdoor courts, and eventually in indoor roller rinks. As Sam stated, “It's even more fun than I remember! I'm probably not joining a derby team anytime soon, but let's just say I haven't completely ruled it out." She has two boys, ages six and eight. Setting a good example for her boys motivates her every day. As Sam states, “My own parents worked so hard to provide for me and my sisters, and I want to instill that same work ethic in my own kids. Plus, being able to have a job that is all about helping people makes it even more fulfilling."
