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 University community to connect. This month readers can get to know the Executive Director of Gamma Phi Circus Marcus Alouan.
Job title/Position: Executive Director, Gamma Phi Circus
Job duties: I work with an amazing group of staff and students to run the Gamma Phi Circus. I work on the administrative side of things as well as work directly with the students, coaching and spotting them in the circus arts. I also run the circus summer camps each June and July.
How long have you been an employee at ISU?: 13 years. I became interim director in January 2010.
What do you love most about working at ISU?: I love working with the students. We get students from all over campus, with every background and every major from accounting to zoology.
What is one fact about yourself that might surprise people?: After high school graduation, I hopped in a pickup truck with my two best friends and went camping out west for six weeks.
When you’re not working, what are you most likely doing?: Spending time with friends and family, on the Constitution Trail, or tinkering in the garage. I also enjoy building props for the circus.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Probably on the tightwire in the Horton south gym. It is where I fell in love with the Circus.
What quote most inspires you? Why?: “If I have seen further than most it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”—Sir. Isaac Newton. In the Circus, we literally stand on each other’s shoulders; in addition, we figuratively stand on the shoulders of the thousands that came before us in Gamma Phi’s 94-year history.
