Spotlight — Proctor, Joshi, Jenkins, Hughes
Minna Proctor
Editor-in-Chief, The Literary Review
College at Florham
How long have you been at FDU?
Since the beginning of August 2008.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
Norman Mailer, because he is my writing hero — bold, political, florid, obnoxious, very intelligent and, unlike many other writers, heroic or not, he had a big fat personality. The operative word there is, of course, “had.” It’s too late to meet Mailer. And so if I had to choose amongst live people, I think I would want to meet the sculptor Richard Serra, because he knows about hugeness, or the ultra-violent but exceptionally good noir writer James Ellroy, because I’m curious.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
I have three answers. (I have to have three answers; I spend all my time thinking about books I enjoy.) Most recently, I have been enjoying David Carr’s memoir, The Night of the Gun. His style is very game and fun to race-read through, but his subject is truth, and how writers can tell their own truth ... most of us can’t even face our own truths. My other answer is Chris Adrian’s The Children’s Hospital. It was published a couple of years ago, but it really stands out amongst new fiction for me. It’s incredibly creative and also intimate. His subject, sick children, is already a scorcher, but he makes it even more devastating with his ability to be very raw and also sort of magical. He’s a genuine innovator. The last book on my list, I read a long time ago (17 years) but I’m reading again: Ghanaian novelist Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. It’s a great period piece and a perfect nostalgic compliment to the wonderful new writing from Africa that’s coming out in our next issue of The Literary Review.
Something I’ve always wanted to learn is ...
… Persian — so I could understand Abbas Kiarostami movies. And Spanish, the lisping way they speak it in Pedro Almodovar movies.
My first job was …
Oh dear! … bagging groceries.
One of the things I have in my refrigerator all the time is …
… butter.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
… operate in a constant state of “at my wit’s end.”
My biggest challenge is ...
… being a good AND serene parent.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
I’d like to, make that love to, be a director of operas or movies — and I’d be quite happy with being a production designer if there weren’t any director jobs available. I would not like to be a publicist.
Khyati Joshi
Associate Professor of Education
Metropolitan Campus
How long have you been at FDU?
Since January 2003.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
Christiane Amanpour [CNN chief international correspondent]. She has a fascinating life story, and I respect her reporting.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
I have a four year old, so I don’t get to watch movies you would want to hear about. When I take a break from my academic reading, which encompasses religion, education and Asian-American studies, I’ll usually pick up a political or spy thriller novel. That’s my “brain candy.”
Something I’ve always wanted to learn is ...
… how to read and write Gujarati. I can speak the language fluently but I am illiterate.
My first job was ...
… bagging groceries at Kroger (a supermarket chain in the southeastern United States).
One of the things I have in my refrigerator all the time is ...
… peppers; many, many different kinds of peppers.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
… am taking classes in cake decorating.
My biggest challenge is ...
… turning off the television at night.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
The sight of blood makes me dizzy. Other than that, I think I would enjoy opening a bakery.
Kevin Jenkins
Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions, Undergraduate Admissions
Metropolitan Campus
How long have you been at FDU?
Since January 2009.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
President Barack Obama, because he is the first African-American president. His high level of intelligence would make for a great conversation and a healthy debate on political, social and economic issues.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money — That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not, by Robert Kiyosaki. I would recommend this book to anyone because it teaches financial literacy, something that is not nearly taught enough.
Something I’ve always wanted to learn is ...
… how to fluently speak a second language.
My first job was ...
… a hotel bellman when I was 13. I used to help people who were checking in with their luggage.
One of the things I have in my refrigerator all the time is …
… Ocean Spray Cran-Apple juice and orange Gatorade.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
… am an Operation Iraqi Freedom war veteran.
My biggest challenge is …
… staying organized.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
The profession other than my own I would most like to attempt is a restaurant/bar/lounge owner. I would want nothing to do with anything in the financial sector.
John Hughes
Senior Lecturer of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and Associate Director, International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
College at Florham
How long have you been at FDU?
Seven years.
If you could meet anyone in the world, whom would you pick? Why?
Hard for me to choose from between the following individuals — so, I’d have a joint meeting:
Dr. Peter Senge, systems theorist/author, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. I’m very interested in systems theory and learning for continuous improvement within complex organizations such as higher education.
Herb Kelleher, founder and former chairperson/chief executive officer of Southwest Airlines. Kelleher is a legendary heart-centered leader and one of my business heroes. Fortune magazine’s poll consistently ranks Southwest Airlines among the Most Admired Companies in America.
What book or film did you recently enjoy? Why would you recommend it?
The book The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Conversations and Journeys, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan. Why would I recommend it? The title says it all.
Something I’ve always wanted to learn is ...
… how to play the piano.
My first job was …
… a dishwasher at an ice cream shop. All the ice cream you could eat along with a paycheck. Not a bad deal and a very good learning experience.
One of the things I have in my refrigerator all the time is …
… surprise! Ice cream.
Complete the phrase: People would be surprised to know that I ...
… enjoy motorcycling.
My biggest challenge is ...
… trying to maintain balance in my life.
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt, and what profession would you want nothing to do with?
I’ve taken action on this. After 20 very happy years serving as a luxury hotel and resort manager and entrepreneur, I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a college teacher.
