Title: Artist-in-Residence. Theatre
Lives with: Twins Sophia and Omar-Sol, wife Marla and dog Goldie
Years at SMU: 3
Favorite academic subject outside of your own: Education and Theology
Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw? Gryffindor
What is the best part about the new Residential Commons system? Well, I’m excited about a lot of things. The thing that has been the best part is that I’m able to engage students that aren’t in theater. At the university, prior to this, I was primarily engaging with theatre students, but now I’m also having conversations with philosophy or biology majors and civil engineers. It all comes down to storytelling and I’m able to play a mentor role. I feel like its making me a better teacher and I’m even having a bigger impact than before when I was only in Meadows.
What made you want to be a Faculty-in-Residence? Quite frankly, for my children. I feel like they are getting so much out of this. They’re really looking up to the college students. I don’t want them to ever feel like the college experience is something they can’t master. Hearing words like dissertation and finals and commons and those types of things, I hope that they’ll own that experience. They’re young now, they’re 7, but in 10 years they’ll be on the precipice to take off.
What is your favorite part about living on campus? I was born in New York City and raised in San Francisco proper and even though I’ve traveled extensively, I’ve mainly stayed very walking-friendly areas. I never fully adjusted to driving all the time. I can’t get rid of the car, but I like the idea of living where I work and working where I live. The most innovative cities are the ones that have a lot of walking.
Why is Kathy Crow the best Commons? It just is. I think it is the best because of the programming that we’re starting to do. We’ve already had a few events with a lot of numbers. Sunday, we had 45 people in our apartment making smoothies. Everyone can get into it.
If you could design a Kathy Crow motto, what would it be? “Through deep roots comes abundant growth.” What it means is the deep, strong roots are the foundation, whether that’s through education at SMU or culture. You all are the leaders in 20 years and the foundation is now.
How involved are you, as a Faculty-in-Residence, with the students? My wife is starting a community garden for Kathy Crow. We’re going to start putting together groups to grow fruit and vegetables. We want to put student in the center of it, producing it.
What advice would you give to the students living in your Commons? It’s a combination of me looking back at when I was young and to keep learning. Keep growing. Have fun, but don’t get crazy. Make mistakes, but not too much. Lay foundations for the long haul. Do things now that will come to fruition and blossom 30 to 40 years from now.
