Jason Millison. Illustration by Jaylene Arnold.

I’ve worked at AU for about a year and a half. Before that, I was deputy director of public engagement for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. My job is to make sure we’re good neighbors. The campus plan [a 10-year plan required of all DC universities by the DC Zoning Commission] mandates the university to operate a community and government relations department to ensure we’re an asset to the neighborhood and not a liability.

A typical day includes responding to all our constituents from DC government and answering questions we receive on the community relations inbox or phone line. Then, there’s a lot of creativity after that to find opportunities to open existing [events] happening at AU to the community. My office is at 4401 Connecticut Avenue.

My go-to lunch spot is Call Your Mother on Connecticut Avenue. My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is the aviary in MGSC. It makes you feel like you’re in between classes, which is pretty invigorating for someone who’s been out of college for 20 years. Campus is at its prettiest during the fall, when you can sit outside with your laptop and not melt but also not freeze to death.  

I found my community at AU by joining the University Communications and Marketing team when Vice President Matt Bennett brought us into the fold. Now, we have a tribe here; we have somewhere we belong.  

I show my AU spirit by rocking AU gear every day in the office. When I started working here, the first thing I did was go to the bookstore and remove the fatigue of decision-making for my wardrobe by buying AU gear in multiple colors.

The person who helped show me the ropes is my boss, Laura Marks, assistant vice president for community and government relations. Laura taught me so much to get me up to speed. This place is big, and if no one holds your hand those first couple of months, you’re going to be lost.

My favorite day of the workweek is Monday. I like the predictability of a Monday and seeing what’s ahead for the week. My work-from-home rituals include throwing on a podcast and going on a long walk my nine-year-old fawn boxer, Bodie, who’s named after my favorite character of all time from The Wire.

The most famous face I’ve seen on campus is David Aldridge, SOC/BA ’87, senior columnist for The Athletic, at a basketball game. My go-to order at the Dav is a black cold brew. [The Dav] is, hands down, the best coffee shop in DC. It’s the combination of good coffee, fast service, and students who are motivated—plus the price can’t be beat.

When I’m not at work, you can find me getting coffee in the morning or at night, hanging out, laid back and sitting on a patio with my dog. My hobbies include playing 2K, watching TV, and playing pickup basketball.

The last great book I read was Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. The last great show I watched was Andor. Seasons one and two are unstoppable, the best pieces of television since The Wire and Breaking Bad. The last great meal I ate was the famous adult Happy Meal at Lobby Bar across from Eastern Market.

If I wasn’t at AU, I’d be an event planner for sports, exercise, or fitness. But my job at AU is best because AU has a history of accepting challenges and trying to accomplish big things as a university. My position here is to spread the word about good things that are being done.