February 19, 2025

Cheryl Williams-Smith is the lead financial and budget analyst at the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) within the School of Medicine and has been employed at UMB since 2001.

What motivates you to volunteer your time for testing and providing feedback on systems and processes? I love helping people, so taking time to test and give feedback can ultimately provide end users with a more user-friendly system (that's the goal); I am all for it. I also enjoy tinkering with financial systems to gain more in-depth understanding of how they work.

What aspects of your job do you find most enjoyable? I have been with IGS since November 2022, so having new coworkers and learning new systems is right up my alley. Everyone is always willing to help one another whenever needed, and I enjoy returning the favor, having come from a central office.

What hobbies or interests do you pursue outside of work? I love cooking for my family and baking. My butter crunch cookies, sweet potato tarts, and butter pound cakes are sought after (by those who know me) every year, starting with the UMB Craft Fair and spilling into the holiday season. Cartoons, Marvel movies, HGTV, and Food Network are my "go-to" for entertainment and enjoyment. I am hoping to win BIG in the lottery and someday meet David Bromstad.

Let us know if you would like to volunteer to be a systems tester.