Name:  Kathryn “Kat” Friedmann Volzer                                  

Job: Assistant director of Alumni Communications and Records for 3 ½ years.

Professional goals: I’d like to manage (and inspire) a team one day. I’d like to help create, then manage, a successful, strategic brand. 

Personal goals: I’ve always wanted to write a book, most likely fiction. To qualify for—and then run—the Boston Marathon one day. To make a difference in somebody’s life. To travel North America on a bicycle.

Education: B.A. in Communication and English from Coker College in 2009 (magna cum laude) and M.S. in Public Relations from Boston University in 2011.

Hometown: I’m originally from Hendersonville, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. I live in Avondale Estates.

Favorite place: Two favorites: the Double G Ranch in Soddy Daisy, Tenn., where I spent 11 summers as a camper/diabetic camp counselor; and the Asheville, N.C., area where I first went on vacation with my husband (and then later married him there).

Family: My husband, Jake, is a former sergeant in the Marine Corps and current nursing student at GPC. Also, mom (Mary Jane), Dad (Louis), older brother Patrick and two nephews and a niece, all under the age of 4—they’re hilarious. 

Favorite book: My favorite book is “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson.

Favorite sport: Soccer. I played four years of NCAA division 2 soccer, and it mostly paid for my undergraduate education. I continue to play in adult co-ed leagues and my “old lady” league. I also referee youth club and high school soccer. 

Favorite movie: It’s a close call between “Kill Bill” and “Pulp Fiction.” 

Leisure activities: Anything sports and outdoors. Soccer, running, camping, hiking, mountain biking. I’ll try just about any sport or physical activity if given the opportunity. There’s a fine line between passion and obsession, and for me that’s bicycles. I love building, fixing and riding bikes; exploring new places on bikes; and sharing my enthusiasm for bikes with other people. I once rode all the way to Alabama on a 1980 Peugeot.  I build most of my bikes myself and name all of them after songs. 

Something most people don’t know about me: Because I’m such an athlete and a tomboy, people are always surprised to find out that I’m actually domesticated.  I really like to cook and I’m not half bad at it. I cooked everything on Thanksgiving by scratch! I also brew my own beer, but I’m not very good at it.

(compiled by Betsy Hardy)