What is your routine for the first few hours of your day?
I wake up at 4 a.m., so hopefully I do not feel rushed. We have two dogs and three cats, so treats and breakfast for them are first on the list, and then I run or walk 1.5 miles before getting ready for the day. I read the newspaper and do the daily Wordle during breakfast and then off to work. I try to get to the office 30 minutes early to have quiet time to read emails and incident reports before the office comes alive.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that changed your perspective?
I just finished reading Washington: A Life, a biography of George Washington. I have always loved history, and, with age, I have learned that not all we were taught in school is the accurate history, so I am trying to find the most truthful biographies to get the real story. Reading the struggles of a young nation is surprisingly parallel to our current political story.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
To invest from the beginning in your retirement fund. It is difficult when you are starting out to think long-term and your salary is low, but it is important to start young so that you are not playing catch-up towards the middle of your career.
What is your favorite campus dining hall meal?
Breakfast! No matter which campus you are on, breakfast always offers items that you don’t normally have at home.
What is something that someone has done for you lately for which you were most grateful?
A co-worker was willing to stay at our house and take care of the five fur babies for 10 days while we went on vacation. Knowing that they were in good hands made it easier to relax and enjoy the time away.
What tool does every campus housing pro need to know how to use, and when was the last time you used one?
A plunger and knowing where the shut-off valve is on a toilet. Luckily it has been a few years.
What was your favorite class when you were a student?
“Sociology of Work” – we spent the whole semester taking different assessment tools and learning how they could be applied.
What hobby would you pursue if time and money were no object?
My favorite hobby is traveling, so I would go everywhere and take my pups with us on every adventure.
What is your favorite tradition from any campus where you have worked?
My first professional position was at a small liberal arts college, Keuka College, which was a completely different experience than my state school experience for undergrad and grad. The school put a lot of emphasis on the class year you were a part of, and they had competitions throughout the year between the classes; at the end of the year was a moving-up ceremony where they would officially move up to the next class. They also mentored those in the lower classes, so that by the time you were a senior, you had a junior, sophomore, and freshman that you were helping to learn the ropes at the college.
What song do you count on to hype you up to start the day or help you celebrate at the end of a long one?
Anything by P!nk. I can find a song to match whatever mood I’m in or need to get to.
Michelle Safewright is the director of housing at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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