THEIR LIFE'S WORK
10 Questions for Beth Paul
Getting to know Beth Paul, our College鈥檚 new president.
Now you鈥檒l see hidden messages in whatever she鈥檚 wearing.
1
What about you would surprise people most?
I hand write a letter to each of my daughters, Martha and Sophie, once a week. It is a special time to share observations and stories with a little wisdom tucked here and there.
2
What phone app do you use the most?
NY Times Crossword app. I got my love of words from my father.
3
What books are currently on your nightstand?
To feed my interest in learning more about the significance of Rochester in social justice movements, I just finished reading David Blight鈥檚 biography of Frederick Douglass. Now I am reading Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi; her first book, Homegoing, was a powerful read.
4
What is your happy place?
I started going to the beach when I was 10 days old. All summer long, rain or shine, my mother would pack up her brood with breakfast, lunch and dinner in tow. I have warm beach sand in my soul!
5
What鈥檚 your favorite place to hang out?
I love to walk around campus, greeting each passerby. Noise-cancelling earbuds has created a challenging hurdle, but I delight in engaging in meaningful conversation with students, faculty, and staff on a regular basis.
6
What is your most-used emoji?
The panda bear emoji, because it represents my favorite stress-relieving pastime: watching the Panda Cam at the National Zoo 鈥� especially when panda momma Mei Xiang is nurturing a new cub like she is now.
7
What is your favorite snack?
Life really is like a box of chocolates.
8
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old-self?
The strengths and answers you seek are inside you and will unfold in due time.
9
What object best represents your perspective on life?
I love kaleidoscopes 鈥� come visit me in my office and you鈥檒l find my kaleidoscope collection. It is so important to look at things from different perspectives 鈥� it is the best way to discover the beauty of our world!
10
What is one of your hidden talents?
I have an embarrassment of earrings, and especially delight in whimsical and arty finds. Sometimes I wear earrings that contain hidden messages for my day 鈥� for example, I might wear my Ouija board 鈥測es鈥� and 鈥渘o鈥� earrings during decision-making, or question mark earrings for a day full of critical dialogue.
