[New Year, New Staff] Meet Residential Counselor Ian Oliver

With the start of a new year at the Gatton Academy comes several new personalities to the staff. We are excited about these passionate and dedicated individuals who have joined our team. They come to us from different parts of the country with a host of varied experiences. Over the last few weeks, the staff has had a chance to get to know each other. It’s now your chance to meet the new faces behind the Academy. Each day this week, we’ll profile a new staff member.

Academy Avatars sat down with each new staff member to post ten questions in hopes of getting to know them better. Avatars came up with five questions that we asked each person. Each Avatar also posed five unique questions of their own choosing to ask as well.

Up first is Residential Counselor Ian Oliver.

Interview by Brandon Kerr, Academy Avatar

1) Why did you decide to join the Gatton Academy staff?

I knew coming out of college I wanted to work with students in a college environment. Having attended a residential high school for gifted children myself, the Gatton Academy seemed a natural fit.

2) Where did you attend college and what subjects did you study?

I attended college at Clemson University (in South Carolina) and studied Physics and Astronomy.

3) What are you looking forward to the most about the coming school year?

I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and see what you do with the opportunity you’ve been presented. I’ve heard and read a lot of amazing things students have done in the past or are working on now.

4) What do you think makes the Gatton Academy a unique educational experience?

I don’t know of any other school that provides so much support and autonomy in allowing students to pursue their academic interests.

5) What contributions do you hope to make to life at the Gatton Academy?

I’d like to be a valuable resource for the students, and maybe share some outside experience.

6) What’s your favorite type of foreign food?

Burritos. Burritos count as foreign right?

7) If you could travel to any country, where would you go, and why?

England. A lifetime of English sentiment means traveling to England always feels like coming home.

8) How did you first find out about the Academy?

Representatives from the academy were at a residential life conference I attended.

9) What is your favorite TV show/movie?

I’m not much of a TV/Movie guy, but probably The Daily Show for TV and Grave of the Fireflies for movie.

10) If you could have any animal as a pet, which would it be, and why?

I was asked this the other day in an icebreaker and answered “Goliath Frog,” but honestly I think I dog is pretty hard to beat.

brandon kerr, Ian Oliver, residential counselor, staff