This month’s staff member in the spotlight is Eric Beckstrom, Senior Academic Advisor in the Center for Students in Transition. We asked him a series of questions and here’s what he had to say:
What is your name and what do you do; how long have you worked here in OVPUE?
My name is Eric Beckstrom (Eric Thomas Beckstrom, according to the Global Directory). I’m a Senior Academic Advisor in the Center for Students in Transition, and before that I advised in HPPLC. I’ve been advising for around 15 years.
What three traits define you?
I’m a sincere, procrastinating, cinephile.
What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
Write successfully, and with far less effort.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
To play jazz piano. Barring that, to juggle knives. Barring that, to juggle knaves.
What challenging thing has happened (to) for you, and what did you gain from it?
No beating around the bush here: alcoholism and leukemia. From recovery from alcoholism I learned a new way of life. From leukemia I’ve honed my dark humor, but don’t know yet what else I’ve gained or learned from the experience – too early to tell. Ask me if I’m still around next year. Ha ha.
How do you define success?
Trying sincerely to be a decent person.
What do you do in your spare time?
Read fiction and astrophysics articles, write, listen to audiobooks. Listen to The Cranberries, Bobby Timmons, Green Day. Kayak on mellow waters. Experiment with low-light/low-rez photography. Avoid necessary renovations to my house.
What’s the coolest (or most important) trend you see today?
Global warming.
What is your favorite thing about working at OVPUE?
Kurt Zorn. I ask you, how could I – how could anyone – answer differently??
Thanks for sharing more about yourself, Eric!