Staff Spotlight: Marion Hunt

This month’s staff member in the spotlight is Marion Hunt, an Academic Advisor in University Division. We asked her a few questions and here’s what she had to say:

What is your name and what do you do; how long have you worked here in OVPUE?

Marion Hunt, Academic Advisor in University Division since 1997.

What three traits define you?

• Caring
• Accepting
• Optimistic

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

I would have probably continued in my former career as a counselor (or social worker) if I hadn’t discovered academic advising.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I would love to become semi-fluent in another language. 

What challenging thing has happened (to) for you, and what did you gain from it?

When our family was on sabbatical in Uganda for six months I got malaria.  By the time we got to a hospital I was in very bad shape and it was the closest I’d ever come to thinking I could die.  I was put on Quinine, which had very profound side effects.  In my case, it caused me to have auditory hallucinations of classical music 24/7!  After recovering from malaria, I felt a renewed sense of appreciation for the simple pleasures of life, and I had a sharpened sense of taste.  I was expressing how extremely tasty a pineapple was, and I offered some to my Ugandan cook, Lydia.  She took a bite of it and remarked “this pineapple has no taste.”  I thought it was the best pineapple I’d ever tasted!

How do you define success?

Using our talents and abilities to make the world a better place.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy being with friends and family, cooking and baking, running, tennis, walking my dog, and reading.

What is a favorite book, movie, and/or tv show that had an impact on you?

I love books about families- two favorites are “Angela’s Ashes” and “The Glass Castle.”  Some of my favorite movies are “Moonstruck,” “Parenthood,” and “Chariots of Fire.”  A TV show that had a great impact on me was the Mary Tyler More show.

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?

Greece or Italy, two countries I’ve never visited.

What is your favorite thing about working at OVPUE?

I love my colleagues, and I appreciate that we come from very different backgrounds and life experiences.  I appreciate that, in UD, we’re encouraged to always be thinking about how to improve our services to students.  I feel that everyone’s thoughts and opinions matter, and the work is never boring.