Campus Closeup

MICHELLE MEADOWS
Institutional Research Analyst
Institutional Research and Planning

YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: Two.

JOB DESCRIPTION: “I am responsible for analyzing and compiling data for the university in response to surveys and questionnaires sent out by national publishers of college data such as the Princeton Review, the College Board, Peterson’s and U.S. News and World Report. I also answer ad hoc requests from the administration, departments across campus, off-campus publications (The Red & Black, Flagpole), and private corporations (IBM, EMC) relating to student enrollment, degrees conferred, graduation and retention rates, among other things.
“In addition, I work with others in the office to create internal publications such as the university’s Fact Book and the President’s Annual Report of Institutional Progress.”

OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “This past year I had a very small, but very productive organic garden, and I had a chance to can and put up vegetables. I enjoyed and shared them with friends and family all winter.
“I also enjoy most non-competitive outdoors activities. I am a big hiker and camper, and have traveled around the world with just a backpack. A few of the countries I visited were Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Nepal and the United Kingdom.”

IF I WERE NOT DOING THIS JOB, I’D MOST LIKE TO: “I did student teaching when I was getting my master’s, and I truly loved the experience. I suppose that I dream of getting my Ph.D. and becoming a professor.”

MY FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC: “Girl music. I listen to everything from Ani DiFranco to Dolly Parton, but Natalie Merchant may be my favorite.”

A BOOK I’D RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: “The book that I am currently reading over and over again is one by my mentor in graduate school. All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks is a reflection on how we can bring love back into our daily practice of being. It speaks of love more as action than feeling and provides beautiful messages such as , ‘There can be no justice without love’ and ‘Love is our true destiny.’ In the end, the book encourages everyone to make love a basic part of our communities on every level.”

THE PEOPLE I ADMIRE MOST: Because of the university’s recent observance of its desegregation, I have learned a lot about Charlayne Hunter-Gault, and at her recent visit had the chance to hear her speak. I was moved by the energy she has brought to ending the politics of racism. The pictures of the events that took place in 1961, the hatred she encountered, touched my heart, and as she stood before us and spoke I thought to myself, ‘This is a truly courageous woman.’ Her insistence that this not be a ‘sad tale,’ was reiterated by the intelligence, humor and true beauty she shared with us all.
“Another person who I feel was a true leader and visionary was the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Working to end ignorance and racial hatred in this country while maintaining a strong commitment to nonviolence was truly revolutionary.”

ISSUES THAT CONCERN ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “The allocation of public funds to both defense and space programs, in my opinion, is extreme.
“I don’t want to appear naive about the real issue of maintaining an adequate national defense, but considering that no other country in the world allocates even a third of what we do to defense, there would appear to be possibilities for redistributing funds. The space program is also being provided with billions of dollars for many projects that should be considered lower on the list of our public priorities. Building space platforms and photographing Mars have their place in our culture, but it should not come before the needs of every citizen to have access to quality education (from preschool to Ph.D.s), above adequate health care and expert child care.
“If we saw a real shift in public policy and resources toward such ends then other societal concerns would find remedies in the spread of intelligence and health.”