The New Professional Advisor of the Year for the Coalition for Collegiate Women’s Leadership was recently named, and she’s right here at UTC.
Aubrey Duman, assistant director in the Office of the Dean of Students, was recognized for her work serving as a Greek advisor on campus and the impact she has had on student life. According to the coalition, she was chosen because she exemplifies the ideals of the Greek community and fosters a learning environment on campus.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?
I love to read, so I’m actually reading a few books. I started a book called You Are Badass by Jen Sincero over spring break. I’m about three-quarters of the way through the book Hidden Figures and also just started a book called A Girl’s Guide to Joining the Resistance: A Feminist Handbook on Fighting for Good by Emma Gray. This one is actually being considered for the curriculum for a leadership program next year. Stay tuned for more info on that.
If you could be one fictional character from a book, TV or movie, who would you be and why?
I’m a huge Harry Potter nerd, so I’d love to be Hermione Granger. She’s such a strong role model for young women. She is a strong woman who focuses on her academic work and doesn’t let her guy friends get in the way of her studies (all the time). I mean without Hermione, Ron and Harry probably would have died in the first book. She had the idea to form a student group to fight Voldemort and Ministry interference in her education; she fought for the rights of others, especially house elves (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, read the books); she was given a time turner as a 12-year-old … something most magical adults aren’t permitted to use. Hermione really is an amazing character. (I’m a Hufflepuff in case you were wondering).
What’s your secret talent?
I honestly don’t know if I have one. I wouldn’t really consider this a talent, but I have double-jointed elbows and can do some weird things with my joints.
What do you wish other people knew about UTC?
I wish people knew how pretty the campus is. It’s sort of like a hidden gem among the mountains.
What is your favorite part about working for UTC?
The students. I love working with the students here. They’re so dedicated and passionate about what they’re involved in. It’s really cool as an administrator to see.
If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
I love history so I don’t know if I can pick one, but I’m really interested in World War II right now. Watching documentaries or reading articles or historical books about that time period are really interesting. I also think it would be interesting to be able to watch the Revolutionary War and see our country being created, also singing the songs from Hamilton while watching would be entertaining, too. Also being able to witness any of the great technological advances throughout history would be fun, from the telegraph to the telephone to computers and so on.
We’re so dependent on technology. It would be really cool to be able to see where it all started.
Tea or coffee?
As long as it comes from Starbucks, it doesn’t matter to me; but my go-to is coffee.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs! I have two pups at home.
If you had to eat at one place on campus for every lunch, what would it be?
Probably Panda Express in the UC. There are so many options and combinations! Not to mention Chinese food is one of my favorites.
What’s something on your bucket list?
You mean besides meeting Emma Watson? I’d have to say visiting Europe.
I want to go to London and see the Harry Potter studio tour and the Tower of London and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I want to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I want to eat pasta and gelato in Italy. I want to see the Parthenon and Santorini in Greece. There’s a huge tomato-throwing festival in Spain I want to go to. I want to see the landscapes in Ireland. I want to visit some of the historical World War II sites in Germany and Poland. I could go on and on with things I want to do and see and experience.
