Truelove can play eight instruments and has named some of them, including “Antonio di Oboe” (photo by Matt Cooper, University Communications)
1) You just won the UO Outstanding Early Professional Advisor Award for undergraduate advising. How’d that feel?
I made a LinkedIn post that really summed it up: “So often in advising our work is individual. Unseen except for the conversations we have with each student. But to be given opportunities to share my work with others in my office, across the university, and, soon, across the world — I’m presenting at an international advising conference in October — and having people enjoy the work I share? Un. Real.”
2) Do you have a student success story?
One of my students transferring from another school was very unhappy at the time of entry into UO because credits between semester schools and quarter schools do not always transfer nicely. They were certain they were going to drop out because they thought they would have to take much longer to finish their degree. Through advising, they came to understand that it was going to be very easy to make up those credits and we could work it so that they were still graduating within their preferred timeline. And through conversations with professors in the SOJC, they were able to get more connected and to see what their career path is going to look like. Toward the end of this year, I was able to see this student lighten up — their whole demeanor changed. It was really exciting to see them happy about their experience at UO and looking forward to the next two years.
3) You’re a proponent of appreciative advising theory. What’s that?
It’s an approach in which advisers highlight what is going well in a student’s journey. College is a really hard transition for a lot of students, and particularly for marginalized students. Giving them opportunities to think about what is going well — what friends I’m making, what connections I’m making, what I’m enjoying about my college experience — helps lift the pressure from everything that feels like it’s going wrong. It improves a student’s sense of self and allows them to believe they are able to make any change as long as they put their mind to it.
4) You’re able to play eight instruments — flute, clarinet and bass clarinet, oboe, tenor and alto saxophone, piano and cello. Which is your favorite?
I love the very full, deep-body sound of cello. And I’ve always wanted to play a stringed instrument in an orchestra. But because I grew up in small towns, I never really had an opportunity to do that. My cello teacher was envious at how quickly I was picking it up — within the first six months, she was starting to teach me Bach pieces. Playing cello feels like I am fulfilling a deep desire.
5) You’ve spent a lot of your life in Fargo, North Dakota. Do you get questions about the movie “Fargo”?
Usually when I say that I’m from Fargo, people will say, “Just like the movie.” Mostly they’ll comment on the cold, because Fargo’s known for really cold, very blustery winters. I haven’t had a Midwest winter in five years now and I very much miss that. I love sitting in my nice, warm, toasty home with a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate, me and my cat cuddled up, maybe watching a cozy movie. And outside is a blizzard. It’s my favorite feeling in the world.
Do you know a UO employee with an interesting angle? Email Matt Cooper, University Communications