Favorite book(s):
Which book has influenced you most? It’s a tie. One is The Periodic Table by Primo Levi, an autobiographical account of a Holocaust survivor who was also a chemist. The book is eloquently written and primarily weaves the author’s multiple identities in intersectional and moving ways. Levi’s work has been translated into over 40 languages, and I look for it in every country I travel to. As a result, I currently have copies in English, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and French.
The other book is St. Ignatius' Own Story. The accounts in this book were dictated to and authored by St. Ignatius’ loyal assistant, Fr. Luis Gonzalez de Camara, shortly before the Society of Jesus founder’s passing in 1556. Much has been written about how St. Ignatius became so moved and transformed by God’s Grace and how he set the Catholic Church, its educational and humanitarian endeavors, and the Papacy itself on a course that has reached all corners of the globe. But reading it in his own words lent incredible power to Ignatius’ story. When I read this book, given to me by Fr. Randy Roche, I inked so many personal reflections and questions to the pages that I had to purchase a clean copy to give back to Randy, who then generously told me to keep both copies and pass one on if the opportunity presented itself. It now sits on my conference table for anyone to claim.
All-time favorite movies or shows:
The Shawshank Redemption is my all-time favorite movie. Back in the days of channel surfing, I would always watch it if I happened upon it on TV. I love its themes of friendship, hope, entrepreneurship, and poetic justice.
Podcasts you enjoy:
I like Guy Raz’s How I Built This, Terry Gross’ Fresh Air, and Stephen Dubner’s Freakonomics Radio podcasts.
Favorite place at LMU:
Currently, my favorite places on campus are Sacred Heart Chapel and our NCAA Beach Volleyball Courts. The former represents a solace I get nowhere else and is a constant reminder to me of beautiful music and Mass ceremonies. The latter, which I pass by every day on the way home from work, reminds me of the power that data-informed decision-making, staring down a difficult challenge, and collaboration across units can bring to solving a wicked problem to achieve multi-faceted outcomes.
What do you do to recharge or have fun?
I mostly recharge through hobbies that require my full concentration to do that activity including composing or learning a new song on guitar or ukulele and building things in my garage and maker-space. To date, I’ve created a suction cup desk, a folding and portable chess table, a license plate guitar, a redwood picnic table with bench seats, a pedestal guitar stand, an iron pipe console table, a set of drink coasters with built-in bottle opener, a laptop stand for people confined to bedrest, and a magnetic pin contraption that we just filed a provisional patent on.