Savannah Gilmore joined our administrative office team just under a month ago and will be holding down the front desk duties this summer. We had a chance to interview Savannah to let you know a little more about her…

What is your work background? What is your educational background?

I am currently a freshman with an intended major in kinesiology. I went to high school about ten minutes away (St. Anthony Village), which is when I worked as the supervisor of the Life Cafe at LifeTime Fitness for two years. Presently, I coach the Vibe Minneapolis club volleyball team as well as my position here.

What are the responsibilities of your current position?

The responsibilities for this job vary day by day. Some days I’m printing things out for TAs and professors, others I’m moving things around Cooke Hall. There are a lot of things that I haven’t had the chance to do here yet, so I’m excited to experience them.

What do you like best about working here?

I love the environment that the people who work here create. Everyone I have met has been extremely kind and welcoming towards me. I was expecting to feel some discomfort or uneasiness starting this job, but once I was introduced and got a chance to talk to everyone I knew that there was nothing for me to be nervous about. I now know that I can approach just about anyone in Cooke Hall with a question and they would be more than happy to help me out. I also enjoy the flexibility that this position offers, like being able to work on my homework after I have finished everything I need to do for the job.

What are you looking forward to learning in your position?

I hope to learn how to better communicate with the faculty here as well as with whomever might come visit the building. I am mostly excited to get to know more people and get more experience under my belt in a more professional environment.

Tell us about you!

I have always been super active and have played just about every sport. Volleyball, basketball, track & field, cross country, soccer, tennis, golf, dance, and swimming, you name it. My favorite by far, though, was volleyball and I played both school and club volleyball throughout high school. I now coach volleyball at the same club that I played at, so it’s cool to experience the game from a new angle. I also love to travel and have been all around Europe, including Barcelona, Amsterdam, Edinborough, and the Scottish Highlands. I have one brother, Greyson, a dog named Pablo, and my cat named Misty. My favorite color is blue, and I love bubble tea!

Do you have a special talent or interest that might surprise someone?

I can do a backflip! I am also interested in sports cars and the history of ancient Egypt.

Any final words of wisdom?

Instead of looking at a negative experience in a bad light, I like to take something from it. Thinking about everything as being bad and something that you screwed up can really start to weigh on you. Try to learn something about yourself or the world when something negative is happening so that you’re better prepared for it next time.