By Andrew Hinkell
We thought we would introduce our community to a group of people normally behind the scenes. We extended our Student Services Spotlight Questionnaire to a group of our directors, instructional designers, and administrators. Here are their responses.
Eric Friedman, Associate Director
What was the last book you read? I’m in the middle of several books right now, but the last one I read that really made an impression on me was 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I wanted to read it prior to this past year’s 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. The book concerns a fictional what-if take on how a time traveler might have intervened to foil the assassination attempt. Although he takes liberties with the characterizations of actual historical people, places, and events, the story was gripping and while suspenseful and horrific in its own way, very different than King’s usual nightmarish tales. He also handles time travel into the past, and its effects on the present, in a really interesting way. I recommend it.
Where did you go to college? Go BU! Go BU! Go BU! That’s right, I have three degrees from BU. BA in Psychology, a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Social Work. And still taking classes. . .probably not going for the doctorate though. We’ll see.
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? Reading the Stephen King book certainly got me thinking about time travel in new and different ways. I think I would like to travel to the future to see what kinds of lives my kids end up leading. Then again, maybe I don’t want to know (cue “Back in Time” by Huey Lewis and the News).
The 5 most recent tracks played on iTunes/Spotify are… ““Black Out Days” by Phantogram, “Brooklyn is Burning” by Head Automica, “Default” by Atoms for Peace, “Into the Galaxy” by Midnight Juggernauts, and “The Walker” by Fitz & the Tantrums. Good beats to run to!
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? Redesigning K-12 Education – Hitting the Reset Button. I’m not an expert, but I would really enjoy bringing together some really exceptionally gifted thinkers to teach this course. I think our current educational system is archaic and flawed and would love to see it transformed in my lifetime.
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? The BU Pub. Awesome sandwiches and a decent selection of beers on tap. And in the basement of The Castle – so cool! A hidden gem.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? James Bond (the Dr. No Sean Connery version). Could it really make sense to be anyone else? But I wouldn’t smoke.
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. LinkedIn has gotten really interesting in the past couple of years. I could spend hours learning about what other people are doing with their lives and work. Very inspiring.
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. Digger the Dog, Digger he goes with you, when you explore. Just pull his leash, go for a walk, he’s your dog for sure! Walkin’ Digger Mom!
This spring I am looking forward to… not having to wear seven layers of clothing when I go out for a run!
Rob Haley, Senior Media Producer
What was the last book you read? Paul and Me: Fifty-three Years of Adventures and Misadventures with My Pal Paul Newman by A E Hotchner
Where did you go to college? ‘Cuse is in the House!
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? I’d want to see Jesus in his teen years…nobody knows the shenanigans that guy got into!
The name of my favorite Pandora radio station is… Alison Krauss and Union Station…it leads to all kinds of interesting bluegrass, which is the stuff that’s tough to find on terrestrial radio, and great to have in the background.
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? After I come back from my time travel it would be called “Teen Jesus: The Original Prankster.”
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? Roast Beast
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? It would have to be a superhero. Maybe Superman. I mean come on…how could any girl turn down the best pickup line possible…“Want to go for a quick fly around the Statue of Liberty and see what happens?”
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. Twitter mostly for sports as well as Boston food scene updates, and especially valuable during fantasy football season.
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. “You took a 40 minute shower, and missed the second half of the game.” Welker…so hot right now.
This spring I am looking forward to… guiding tourists through the streets of Boston while stopping at some of the city’s most beloved food destinations.
Dave D’Onofrio, Online Services Administrator
What was the last book you read? The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to the First Year by Armin Brott. (Lame, I realize, but indicative of where my focus has been and how little time I’ve had for other reading.)
Where did you go to college? Boston University, College of Communication
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? Not sure exactly, but I’d use the chance to be a first-hand witness to greatness – so maybe watch Ted Williams hit a baseball, Martin Luther King Jr. inspire with his words, Abraham Lincoln run a country, Chris Farley film “Tommy Boy,” something like that.
The name of my favorite Pandora radio station is… I don’t have iTunes, and my wife controls our Netflix queue, so I’ll go with Kenny Chesney or Zac Brown Band Radio on Pandora.
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? Journalism for the Next Generation (It would center around producing an online news site – articles, videos, photos, web design, etc. – and would be for high school students, replacing the classic high school newspaper while developing a more modern and real-world-useful skill set.)
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? We used to have a Taco Bell … but, alas, now it would depend on my mood: pizza, T. Anthony’s; burger, UBurger; burrito, Anna’s Taqueria (definitely worth the walk).
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Coach Eric Taylor, Friday Night Lights
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. Twitter
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. “Bernie and Phyl’s: Quality, comfort, and price … that’s nice!”
This spring I am looking forward to… the chance to wheel my daughter around in her new wagon, and to watch her really enjoy the outdoors for the first time since she learned to walk and run.
Rebecca Bell, Compliance and Exam Manager
What was the last book you read? The Atrocity Archives (The Laundry Files, #1) by Charles Stross
Where did you go to college? BU!
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? Japan, 100 years from now
The next 5 in my Netflix queue are… Highlander, Highlander II: The Quickening, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Highlander: Endgame, and Highlander: The Source.
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? “That’s not supposed to sound like that!”: Bike Maintenance 101
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? India Quality
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Leeloo Dallas
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. Reddit
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. “Who’s that girl? It’s Jess!”
This spring I am looking forward to… the cherry blossoms along the Charles River Esplanade!
Elena Garofoli, Senior Instructional Designer
What was the last book you read? In the process of reading Kate Atkinson’s Life after Life.
Where did you go to college? Well, take your pick: Northern Arizona University, Boston University, Springfield College, Marlboro College
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? I would dance onstage with Ginger Rogers back in the 1930’s.
The name of my favorite Pandora radio station is… Contemporary Folk.
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? Spirituality of an Online Community
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? Super 88 Food Court down the street from our office.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Wonder Woman, definitely
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. Facebook
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. Couldn’t tell you why, but here it is: “Double your pleasure, double your fun, with Double mint, Double mint, Double mint gum.”
This spring I am looking forward to… warmth! Sitting on my front porch drinking coffee before work, cooking out on the back deck. Wearing shorts!
Rye Gentleman, Instructional Designer
What was the last book you read? Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain
Where did you go to college? North Carolina School of the Arts for undergrad, San Jose State University for grad
If you could travel to any place and time, where and when would you go? 2045 to see if the singularity has happened yet.
The name of my favorite Spotify radio station is… Prog rock radio.
If you could create your own online course what would it be called? From Shakespeare to Whedon: Dialogue that changed the lexicon. A lot.
You are an online student visiting campus for the first time. Where do you go for lunch? The Banh Mi stand at Super 88.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Who’s to say I’m not one already?
I will most likely be browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Reddit. Yes
The first TV jingle that comes to mind. No!
This spring I am looking forward to… riding my bike sans snow tires.
2 Comments
Jacques posted on March 15, 2014 at 1:34 am
Thank you all for the great job you do!!!!
efried90 posted on May 12, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. We couldn’t do it without the amazing faculty and students!