Josh Finver. Graphic by Jaylene Arnold. 

I’ve worked at AU for 12 years. Before that, I worked at a bank, pursued a music career, and did freelance writing.

My job is to manage all the transportation programs on campus—except the university shuttle, which falls under Facilities Management. This includes parking, the U-Pass program, and our transportation partnerships like Capital Bikeshare and AU-Lyft RideSmart. A typical day includes meetings about various construction projects and upcoming events on campus. My office is in the lower level of the Don Myers Technology and Innovation Building.

Mine is an Eagle family. I studied journalism here and my dad, Frank Finver, SIS/BA ’77, also studied here before his career as a Foreign Service officer. As a Foreign Service brat, we bounced around; I spent two years living in Tel Aviv, Israel; Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia); and Moscow, Russia, and then I graduated high school in Lisbon, Portugal.

My go-to lunch spot is Wagshal’s, where I get a prosciutto sub. It’s not on the menu anymore, but they’ll still make it special. Campus is at its prettiest when students come back for the fall and campus is alive. My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is Woods-Brown Amphitheater. I lived in Leonard Hall as a student, so I’ve always liked that spot. 

I show my AU spirit by ensuring anyone who comes to campus has the best possible experience. I try to make sure we put our best foot forward. I found my community at AU by developing relationships with people across campus. It’s nice to bump into familiar faces working toward the same goal.

The people who helped show me the ropes are Terry Campbell, my first supervisor; Dan Nichols, who I worked closely with for years; and my current boss, Phil Morse [assistant vice president of university police, emergency management, and transportation programs] who provides me with additional perspective, guidance, and mentorship. The most famous face I’ve seen on campus is Ted Leonsis, the CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment. As a big Caps fan, I had a brief conversation with him and expressed my gratitude for the 2018 Stanley Cup.

My favorite day of the workweek is Friday; you can look back at a successful week and look forward to a weekend refresh. My work-from-home rituals include nice interruptions throughout the day from my cat, Harper, and my dog, Ellie, and noodling around on my acoustic guitar in between meetings.

When I’m not at work, you can find me at home with my wonderful wife Masha, at a ballgame, or enjoying local shows around town. Some of my favorite local music venues are the Anthem, 9:30 Club, the Fillmore, and the Pie Shop on H Street. Music is a huge part of my life. I’m the singer and guitarist for a band called Black Dog Prowl. We’ve toured inside and outside the US, but haven’t played a show since the pandemic. In 2018, we played ForceFest, which was headlined by System of a Down. We’ve been getting back into writing songs and talking about getting back in the studio. My hobbies also include cooking and playing softball and pickup football.

The last great book I read was Doppleganger by Naomi Klein. The last great show I watched was Lessons in Chemistry. The last great meal I ate was rib eye on the grill with potato salad and corn salad. My go-to order at the Bridge is a cortado.

If I wasn’t at AU, I’d be a speechwriter. But my job at AU is best because we interact with people of all different backgrounds and touch pretty much every department on campus. And it’s great to know we’re helping the community.