Big news!

I was hesitant to broadcast this out to the world, but I think it's solid enough to announce now. I also tried to tell a lot of people personally rather than having to find out via blog. I think I've done my due diligence, though, so I apologize if I missed you.

Without further ado, my news:
I got a new job! Yay! Oh, this is so big... I've been looking for a long time and putting a lot of time and energy and effort into the job search and it's finally paid off. Beginning July 16, I will be Publications Coordinator for the Center for the Arts at George Mason University. That basically means that I am the one that gets to organize and coordinate all of the people and companies that have to come together to get a piece of direct mail printed. Many factors seemed to come together to make me confident that this is the right position for me and that accepting the position was the right decision:
- I'll be making slightly more than I was at my last position plus better benefits.
- I'll have less responsibility!! (I know this sounds backwards, but I really had more responsibility and power at my last position than I was ready for.)
- I get to stay connected to the arts. I didn't really think that was going to happen so it's like a little bonus.
- The position will use my strengths and skills daily.
- I will get to be a part of a larger marketing team so that I can not only contribute, but also learn from people with more and different experience than me. Plus, I will be working directly with a very experienced arts marketer who is the head of the department.
- In addition to learning from my team, I will have the opportunity to do some more formal learning. I will be able to earn my MBA... wait for it... wait for it... FREEEEE! Going back to school kind of sounds awful to me right now, but I do love marketing and I want to do it well. Up to this point, a lot of my marketing experience has been "marketing by experiment" so I really do want to dig in and find out what all those scary business-types know that I don't. Corporate finance kind of makes me want to scoop my eyes out with spoons, but I can make it through if it will help my career.

So, that's that. A long job search is FINALLY over. I feel so relieved. I feel like I can finally start living my life again. I've felt VERY much in transition over the last six months or so, but now with a new job and a new place to live, I can see the dust starting to settle a little. That is uber-exciting! Yay God! Yay me!