Every month the Administrative/Professional (A/P) Council highlights an A/P staff member through a series of questions as another way for the Illinois State community to connect. This month readers can get to know Alan Lin, academic advisor in the Department of English.
As an academic advisor in the Department of English, what are your responsibilities?
I advise students who are English education Majors, English minors, and TESOL minors towards meeting their degree and licensure requirements. I also teach transfer and freshmen sections of ENG 102, a course to help students research and plan out their career goals after graduation.
How long have you been an employee at Illinois State?
I have been working full time at ISU for eight years, and I have also worked as a student worker and graduate assistant from when I was a student.
What do you love most about working at Illinois State?
I really love working at an institution where so many people, both students and employees, are dedicated to education, research, and service. I can’t help but think about the incredibly kind colleagues and students I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
When you’re not working, what are you most likely doing?
I am most likely spending time with my family, watching basketball highlights on YouTube, or reading a book.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
Williams Hall is my favorite place on campus. This is a wonderfully strange and beautiful building! It might be haunted too. It is fun to get lost inside, but only when you’re not running late for a class/meeting.
What quote most inspires you? Why?
“… If you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it’ll spread over into the rest of your life. It’ll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.”—Bruce Lee. There is so much we have yet to accomplish, individually and collectively, and I think Bruce’s philosophy here gives hope and courage to keep working and growing.
