FAU Broward Campuses - Staff Spotlight

Holly DeWaters

Sunday, Nov 22, 2020
Holly DeWaters

Program Assistant | Testing & Evaluation Center

Holly DeWaters is a Program Assistant for the Testing & Evaluation Center at the FAU Davie campus. Prior to coming to FAU, she was a business analyst for the financial services industry. She uses those skills as the testing center’s data analyst assisting them in making informed forecasting decisions. DeWaters is best known for helping alleviate student test anxiety with her motivational quotes, friendly demeanor, and practical advice: "My advice to anyone coming in to take a test at our testing center is to be sure you know what identification is required for the exam you are taking," said DeWaters, who has been working at FAU since 2016.

DeWaters, a native of Somers, New York who graduated from Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science, said her favorite FAU memory was when she discovered that her supervisor also shared a passion for office Halloween decorations. "My first Halloween as a staff member, I was a little shocked and pleasantly surprised to learn that my supervisor, Dr. Shireen Lalla has an elaborate Halloween décor collection and each year we add to it," said DeWaters, who encourages everyone to check out the Center’s spooky display next October 2021. "My other favorite memory is being nominated for staff member of the year for the Broward Achievement Awards. It was such an honor to have my work acknowledged in such a prestigious way. I am so appreciative of the FAU Broward community."

During her free time, DeWaters has volunteered at Tomorrow's Rainbow in Coconut Creek, a ranch which provides grieving children, teens and their families an emotionally safe environment for hope and healing through guidance, education and support with horses in therapy.

She also counts genealogy as one of her passions, "I got started doing this back when I was in college due to the fact I was adopted and needed to discover my roots. After many years of searching, I recently found out who my birth mother is. She passed away long ago, but I have a new found sister in Pennsylvania, a niece in California, an uncle in Coral Gables, and an Aunt in the Cayman Islands. I have met and spent time with each of them, it has been so rewarding to have my passion result in acquiring family."