Real People Profiles: Jeff Cullen

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:47:00 -0400
real-people-profiles

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty and staff, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Jeff Cullen. And for those fans of the Twilight series, my middle name is Edward, I drive fast and aggressively, and I have abnormally long canine teeth. Just sayin'.

Hometown: It's complicated. I was born in Iowa, but grew up and graduated from high school in Fort Washington/Oxon Hill (PG County in the house!). Since then, it's been Colorado, Virginia, Massachusetts, Virginia again, Iowa again, and we are now pretty well settled in Odenton, Maryland.

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Two years, which is like 14 in Retriever years.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Director of Student Judicial Programs

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: I jokingly call myself the "dean of mean." I'm a sweetheart, though.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: When I can connect with a student whose life is in crisis and help them to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel (and that it's not the headlamp of an oncoming train).

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: Paradoxically, that I am both a lot dumber and a lot smarter than I thought I was.

Q: Complete this sentence: “I am a big fan of __________”

A: Mackenzie, age 10, and Nate, age 6.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: I work in the temporary, modular units known as the Student Development & Success Center. I remember those temporary buildings from when I visited in 1992. Beware of the word "temporary!"