Malini Basdeo. Graphic by Jaylene Arnold.

I’ve worked at AU for four years. Before that, I was a psychology doctoral intern at the counseling center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

My job is to oversee the Center for Well-Being’s workshops, events, and other programming, including therapy dog events every semester and our mental health education presentations. I also oversee our alcohol and other drug services and the Peer Health Educators program. A typical day includes lots of planning, meetings and staying organized. My office is at Hughes 105.

My go-to lunch spot is wherever my colleagues are. We always connect over food. My go-to order at the Dav or the Bridge is an iced caramel latte. My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is the amphitheater, which is luckily located close to my office. I feel like it’s an underrated spot. Campus is at its prettiest during the fall. Not every university gets to say they are also an arboretum.

I show my AU spirit by collaborating with campus partners every chance I get. I found my community at AU by reaching out to others to work on our goal of improving student wellness together. 

The person who helped show me the ropes is our executive director, Shatina Williams. When I started at the center, I was a post-doctoral fellow and she was my training director. As I’ve been promoted to higher positions, so has she. She’s been a wonderful boss. 

My favorite day of the workweek is Wednesday, when the whole staff is in the office together. My work-from-home rituals include exercise, coffee, then soaking up sunlight before sitting down at my workspace. I do my Zoom meetings from my dining table or my desk. 

When I’m not at work, you can find me taking a walk around Georgetown’s beautiful residential streets. My hobbies include reading and playing video games. 

The last great book I read was Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future by Jean M. Twenge. It’s about the trends between different generations and the role that technology plays in some of their differences. The last great show I watched was Jujutsu Kaisen, an anime. It’s clever, funny, and dramatic. The last great meal I ate was bacon, egg, and cheese with hot honey on an everything bagel from Call Your Mother in Georgetown.

My most Washington moment was moving into my home, which is close enough to the US Naval Observatory that I hear them play the national anthem every morning at 8 a.m. The most famous face I’ve seen on campus is Clawed Z. Eagle.

If I wasn’t a psychologist, I’d be one of those people who gets to travel the world to eat food and experience the culture of different regions, like [YouTube personality] Mark Wiens or Anthony Bourdain. But my job at AU is best because of our community. Working with fun, dedicated colleagues to support such a smart, motivated student body energizes me.