Her husband, Kenny Potters, is retired Air Force and is working at Melrose Bombing Range. They have been married for 14 years and have an eight-year-old son, Benjamin.
"I used my GI Bill to finish up my bachelor's degree and get my master's degree at ENMU," said Mrs. Potters.
She used to sit at "the Wagon Wheel restaurant until late at night drinking a never-ending cup of coffee doing my math homework with my fellow math majors. We'd get a corner booth and sit there forever or until we finished, whichever came first," said the ENMU alumni.
She also has an associate in applied science in avionic systems technology from Community College of the Air Force, an associate of arts in liberal arts from Clovis Community College and is working on completing her second bachelor's degree. This one is in applied arts and sciences in electronics from ENMU.
She got into mathematics because she was "good at it," she said.
"It is the only field where you were guaranteed to find the correct answers as long as you followed the rules. There is comfort in the predictability," explained the mathematician.
Her favorite mathematicians are Dr. Kathleen Salter and Dr. Regina Aragon. "Both are extremely brilliant women professors at ENMU who gave me someone to look up to and reminded me constantly that perfection is not unattainable and should be expected."
She considers them mentors, along with Dr. Suzanna Balch-Lindsay, whom she admires for her "ability to handle numerous tasks for the university and her overall professionalism in doing it," and gives her something to strive for personally.
She spends most of her time trying to retrain students' attitudes towards math, and correct their bad mathematical habits for them to be successful.
"My main concern is my students. Trying to pick up on their deficits and make constant adjustments is what I do. That and give them the proverbial swift kick when they need it," said Mrs. Potters.
She loves her students, even if they drive her nuts, and the people she works with.
"I love the freedom of setting my schedule so that I can be home for my son. I love the material I teach. I am blessed. It's not every day that a person actually gets to do what they truly enjoy and have it fit the lifestyle they want to live and get paid for it," explained Mrs. Potters.
"I don't have a hometown per se. I was a military brat and grew up all over the world. I came to Clovis when I was stationed at Cannon AFB in 1997 and have never left," said Mrs. Potters.
She has lived in this area longer than anywhere else.
Her family lives in Arkansas and Louisiana. She goes back there to visit for vacations but can't say that's where she's from.
"Growing up constantly moving gave me a unique perspective on life. I've seen and lived in other cultures and mingled with people who are drastically different from myself. It lets you know at a young age that the world is a very large place and there is more to life than what is right in front of you.
"You learn to adapt to the environment you're in and be open to other peoples' thoughts and opinions. It also taught me that while change can be hard, it is necessary to achieve what you want. So don't be afraid of it. You don't like your job, find a new one. You don't like where you live, move. You want a different life, go get it. There is more to life than what is in front of your face," said Mrs. Potters.
