I’ve worked at AU for almost six years. Before that, I was working on my master’s of education with a focus in college student affairs at the University of South Florida. While I was there, I worked for the university’s Center for Student Involvement and Fraternity and Sorority Life.

My job is to serve as the primary panhellenic advisor for AU’s seven sororities and coadvise our Intercultural Greek Collective. A typical day includes lots of meetings and interactions with students on campus. My office is Mary Graydon Center, room 235.

My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is the Woods-Brown Amphitheater.

Campus is at its prettiest during mid-March to early April during cherry blossom season. Everything just seems a little brighter. My go-to lunch is fish tacos at Bandit Taco in Tenleytown. My go-to order at the Bridge is an iced lavender or vanilla dirty chai. 

I show my AU spirit by talking with people about this place. American University is in the [heart] of DC; there’s good food, good weather. There are good people here who are looking to support you.

My favorite day of the workweek is Tuesday, which is our core office day. Everyone is around. I found my community at AU through the Black Faculty and Staff Affinity Group. The group helped me find other Black nerds who work here.

The person who helped show me the ropes is Ayana Wilson, director of the Center for Student Involvement. She has been my biggest supporter here. She’s very quick, she’s very thoughtful, and she thinks about a lot of different people before herself.

My work-from-home rituals include maintaining background noise while I work, whether it’s music, soccer games, or Manga recaps. I do my Zoom meetings from my living room in Arlington.

The most famous face I’ve seen through AU is Giveon. He did one of his first shows when he was breaking out here at AU, but it was during the pandemic, so it was virtual. It was almost like our own little AU Tiny Desk Concert.  

When I’m not at work, you can find me at card shops in Northern Virginia. I host Digimon tournaments on Friday nights, and I play Digimon and One Piece three to four nights a week. My other hobbies include religiously watching Manchester City and Barcelona soccer and collecting Funko Pop! figures and comic books. Music is a big part of my life too. I played percussion in a metal band for seven years.

The last great book I read was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The last great show I watched was Abbott Elementary. The last great meal I ate was Bolivian food— chicharrón with rice and white corn—made by my friends’ aunt.

If I wasn’t at AU, I’d own a coffee shop that pairs with my hobbies. It would be really cool to have a shop that has boba, sells sneakers on the weekend, and people could come play card games. But my job at AU is best because I can help people find themselves, which is why I got into student affairs. There’s lots of opportunity and people who I enjoy spending time around at AU.