02/25/2021
An interview with Trisha Prunty conducted by Lumpkin Student Success Center Coordinator Assistant Nick Johnson and ARA Anastasia Wi**er:
1. What is your full position title on campus?
Professor of Psychology
2. If you are a professor, what do you teach?
All psych! Actually, that isn't true as I am not clinically trained. Thus far at Blackburn College, I have taught research (methods and design), general psychology, physiological psychology, and psychology of learning. I am excited to have the opportunity to teach human sexuality in the Fall of 2021. Everyone should take it. Seriously, everyone.
3. How long have you worked at Blackburn? Spring 2021 is only my second semester! I'm a newbie.
4. What's your favorite thing about working at Blackburn so far? Everyone is genuine. The faculty/staff/administration clearly care about this campus and its members. It's refreshing.
5. What has been your biggest challenge so far at Blackburn?
My remote status. It's weird to be new and also distant. I am used to integrating myself in with students and colleagues, yet I may as well be in space in some ways!
6. What are some techniques you recommend for relaxation?
I have a tendency to take on several projects and goals, so I'm a generally busy person. Add in 4 kids 12 years and younger, and I need a break once in awhile! I would recommend some of the aspects that I have done for myself in recent months. 1) I make sure that three times a week, I take 30 minutes for me. That can be whatever I want - sometimes I read. Sometimes I work on a puzzle. Sometimes I just read the news or scroll Facebook. The important aspect is it is MY time. No one else's. 2) I have been doing loving kindness meditation for several weeks now. LKM is a type of meditation where you send well wishes and love to someone that you admire or love and, towards the end of the session, imagine those same well wishes to ourselves. We are often our own worst critics and this process helps to validate that we are worthy of love without "earning" it in some way. 3) Finally, since my recent birthday in January, I have decided to spend 365 days in gratitude. I write a heartfelt, uplifting card to someone and mail it each and every day. The conversations that have resulted from this simple practice have really made me feel content.
7. Have you worked at previous colleges before? If so, please name them?
I have, indeed. I started my career at Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, North Carolina (now the University of Mount Olive). Most recently, I was a full professor at Lindenwood University - Belleville in Belleville Illinois. The Lindenwood system decided to permanently close that campus in May of 2020.
8. Is working at Blackburn College different than working at another school?
In some ways, no. In others, yes. The students here are professional. I cannot tell you how many times I receive a "Hey, Trisha!" email from previous colleges/universities. Here, however, students follow professional guidelines and decorum. In fact, I might be the more informal in conversations with students (whoops).
9. If anything, what do you think that the campus could improve on?
Honestly, that is hard for me to answer, given that I'm at home and not there.
10. What are some study techniques that you recommend to your students?
Teach each other. You learn more when you have to explain it to someone else than when you simply look over your notes or read the book. I have learned so much from simply being responsible for teaching it.
