Interviewers

• Neeta Bauer interviewed by Danielle Dennis (University Services Administration)
• Bill Pierce interviewed by Aaron Sked (Print, Mail, and Trademark Licensing Services)
• Jen Ryan interviewed by Chris Warkala (Housing and Real Estate Services)
• Rebecca Skwiat interviewed by Rie Yamauchi (University Services Administration)

Some responses have been edited for length

What do you like to do outside of work?/ What are your hobbies?

Neeta: I'm on a crochet kick right now. I've been working on the Blooming Fiber Arts Project here on campus. This is when they put fiber art up around Firestone. It took me six months to complete. I mostly make blankets. I am also working on getting my MBA in Strategy and Supply Chain Management.  

Bill: I am a library activist. I’m a working artist, a working scene-designer. Since 2016, we (University Services) have been doing a service project benefiting Puedo Leer Library in Nicaragua. We do a collection weekend around the holidays each year. We've probably sent down to the library over 1,000 new and gently used children’s books.

Jen: I like to sew and also do quilting.

Becky: Hang out with friends, relax at the beach, ride my motorcycle.

Where did you grow up?  

Neeta: I grew up in Jersey -  Greenbrook, NJ

Bill: Right around here. I was born in New York City, I grew up in Princeton.

Jen: Egg Harbor Township in NJ

Becky: East Brunswick, NJ

What is a surprising fact about you or what are some things people don’t know about you?

Bill: I have no idea!  I mean, I’m a fairly open book, so…what don’t people know about me?

Jen: When I was in high school and also my first two years of college, I was into archery and won championships.

What is your favorite movie, TV show, book, or musical performer? 

Neeta: Movie - I love Bollywood movies and horror movies. TV show - I don’t have one. Music - Hindi music...and of course Beyonce.  

Bill: I like film, but I’m a little bit more partial to books. My favorite authors are George Bernard Shaw and Sinclair Lewis.

Jen: My favorite movie is "The Shawshank Redemption." For TV, I like “What We do In the Shadows.” For music, it depends on what I’m doing. When I clean, I listen to The Beatles, when I’m cooking, I like to listen to old-school rap music, and when I’m just hanging out, I listen to Dead & Company.

Becky: My favorite type of music is anything classic rock.

Do you have any pets?

Neeta: I do I have a cat. Avee she’s a black cat.  

Bill: I had dogs growing up, but I haven’t had pets in a while. My brother and I were taking care of my mom for a while, and we weren’t able to support an animal with the attention one would require, given our other responsibilities. Over the years I have had a fair selection of dogs and cats.

Jen: Yes - two ferrets, Eggo and Azazel.

Becky: I have one dog (German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix) and one cool cat (he thinks he’s a dog). I’m also fostering a Husky - a soon to be foster-fail.

What's one thing on your bucket list?

Neeta: To learn how to swim. 

Bill: My bucket list is pretty big, but I’m always working on it. I don’t do mountain climbing, but I do hikeable mountains. So, probably, I would say climb Mount Washington up in New England. Because that’s about the most difficult walkable mountain on the east coast.

Jen: I’d like to finish my master’s degree.

Becky: Would love to travel to every NFL stadium in the US and watch a football game.

What is your favorite vacation spot or dream destination?

Neeta: I like the beach.  Anywhere near the beach is fun. 

Bill: Nicaragua, Minneapolis, Newfoundland. I’ve been to Minneapolis, I’ve been to Nicaragua, I haven’t been to Newfoundland. I like hills, I like maritime settings. Nicaragua is extremely mountainous; it’s one of the things I like about it. It (Nicaragua) has a lot of hike-able mountains, there’s one, Mombacho, that’s about a kilometer up. It’s the tallest walk, I mean it’s a hiking trail.

Jen: Disney World.

Becky: My dream would be to travel to Australia and go diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Do you have any summer plans? What are you looking forward to this summer?

Neeta: I'm looking forward to working with Habitat for Humanities.  

Bill: Most of my summer off-time is spent at a desk or at a workshop. Actually, given the choice of vacation, I’m unusual. I like to vacation in the winter, I much prefer that. If I do big trips, it will usually be right after the winter holiday.

Jen: I'm going to Disney World in July. My daughter will be graduating from high school and then will start attending Temple University.

Becky: Planning to take a road trip this summer.  Not sure where to yet. Maybe to Texas, Utah, or Tennessee – still undecided.

If you could have dinner with one person (living or deceased), who would that be?

Neeta: My grandfather on my mom’s side. He passed away when I was young, and I've heard wonderful stories about him.

Bill: It used to be Bernard Shaw, but I discovered that, learning more about the character of the guy, hard pass; he was nasty. Terry Pratchett, probably.

Jen: It would be my late grandmother.

Becky: Tony Morreale (the former Director of Print and Mail Services). 

If you were to choose a superpower, what would that be?

Neeta: Probably selective mind reading. I don’t want to know what you’re thinking all the time, just sometimes.   

Bill: Empathy. It’s something I try to cultivate in my work and in my personal life in relating to people. You know, you’re understanding of empathy can always be improved. In stage management, which is one of my key responsibilities over at Richardson, you’re making performers comfortable. And the performers range from undergraduates to external guests. You’re trying to treat all those people equally. You know, you don’t treat them differently, but their needs are different.

Jen: I'd like to be able to fly.

Becky: I’d want to be invisible. I could go wherever and not be bothered.