. How long have you been working at St.Kates?

102 days!
 

1. What were the driving factors in your decision to work at St. Kate's?

I strongly believe in the power of a women-centered education. Having graduated with two degrees from Mills College, a Bay Area women’s college, I know what a deep impact a women’s education at a small liberal arts institution can make on developing one’s sense of personal empowerment and creative voice. I’m at a point in my career where I want to be able to live congruently – have my passions, values and strengths be channeled into a purpose and position that I can whole-heartedly commit myself and future to – I hope to support St. Kate’s in its mission in educating generations of students in an innovative and critically thinking environment.

I was also very drawn to St. Kate’s social justice educational and community focus. During my 15 years in Oakland, I committed a lot of my time as a community artist to supporting local arts and underrepresented artists of color. I’m very excited at the prospect of being able to continue to make an impact and contribute to the St. Kate’s community as a staff member and writer/artist.

 

2. What has been the most memorable experience at St. Kate’s this year?

Without a doubt, the most memorable experience this year was going to the State Fair with Pamela Fletcher, Director of the Writing Intensive Program and Associate Professor of English. She and I were introduced to each other by my friend, and Assistant Professor, Lucas Pingel while waiting for the bus to take us to the Fair, and we became fast friends and had a marvelous time together. The second most memorable experience was running into, and becoming acquainted with, the MIPS staff and all of us witnessing Pamela having her first fried cheese curd ever at The Mouth Trap.

 

3. If you could tell the students one thing it would be...

I would tell them to try to live in the present and be aware of their beauty and brilliance now, and to recognize how that beauty grows and changes as they continue to develop as whole, complex people. Ten years ago, I was at a writing residency at Hedgebrook (an all-women’s residency) on Whidbey Island in Washington, and I came across my senior picture from high school in a book I had brought along to read. I was struck by how pretty I was then, and how sad it was that I didn’t realize it at the time because I was so consumed by my adolescence insecurity and getting into and preparing myself for college.  Now I try to pay attention to who I am each day, and be grateful for my beauty and intellect at every stage of my life.

 

4.  What do you do in your spare time?

I really love food. Right now I am spending most of my free time consumed with gastronomy*- traveling and researching (and of course eating!) food and food cultures. For example, last year I traveled to Italy to research its cuisine, gelato especially, in three different regions of the country. I also love to make home-made, artisan sorbets and bake.

When I’m not obsessed with food, I like to read – novels, short story collections, poetry, cookbooks, write poetry, make handmade books and other paper crafts and antique/thrift store hunting. This year I am embarking on writing food essays/mini memoirs and would like to learn to sew.

 

*1. The art or activity of cooking and eating fine food. 2. Culinary customs or style. Merriam Webster e-dictionary.

 

5. What does social justice mean to you and how do you apply it to your life?

Social justice means to me speaking up and advocating for equality among all races, classes, genders and sexual orientations and identities. It means educating myself and others against ignorance or bias, and trying to stay true to recognizing my own prejudicial tendencies. It means working to create equal and rich opportunities for all people, especially underprivileged and underrepresented communities, and to be generous and open to the needs of individuals – strangers as well as those closest to you. It means having compassion, being a kind and thoughtful human being, and having faith and loving yourself so you can make a positive impact on your immediate, as well as the larger, community. But most of all it means being a feminist! Yay St. Kates!

 

6. What is the best piece of advice you have ever heard?

“To thine own self be true.”  Written by William Shakespeare and spoken by Polonius in “Hamlet.”