Name:  Dr. Patricia “Patti” Gregg

Job: Associate director for Assessment and Reporting, Office of Institutional Effectiveness. I’ve been at Georgia Perimeter College for 13 years: at Decatur, then Lakeside, now located at Clarkston and thrilled to be back in the campus environment!

Favorite thing about working at GPC: Supporting the mission of GPC as an access institution and contributing to the success of our students—even if only indirectly.

Education/work background: B.S. in Humanistic and Behavioral Studies (yes, it was the ’70s) from Boston University; MBA (yes, it was the ’80s) from the University of South Florida; Ph.D. in Higher Education from Penn State University. I have worked in colleges and universities for my entire adult life. My very first job was in continuing education. Over the years, I have taught both undergraduate and graduate courses, been a career counselor and an academic advisor, served as a project evaluator for numerous grants, and of course, done strategic planning, institutional research and academic assessment.

Hometown/family: Grew up in Miami, Fla.; all my family still lives in that area. I currently reside in Avondale Estates. No kids, no pets, sporadic success with houseplants.

Favorite place: Seriously? One favorite place?  I love living in DeKalb County for its diversity. The prettiest place I’ve ever visited was the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. But generally I’m drawn to big cities with a vibrant cultural scene and spicy food.

Favorite books: I read a lot of murder mysteries and pretty much whatever my literary friends recommend to me. Currently on my desk is Pearl Cleage’s memoir, “Things I Should Have Told My Daughter.” Next after that will be “The Information Diet.” I just heard the author, Clay Johnson, speak here at GPC.

Most influential person in my life and why: Probably my grandmother. She had an eighth grade education, but a lifelong love of knowledge and new experiences. I got my inquisitive nature (and sharp tongue) from her.

Leisure activities: Reading, concerts, plays, talking about how I need to get on the treadmill, Facebook (can’t deny it) and my ultimate guilty pleasures: HGTV and the Food Network.

Pet peeve: Hypocrisy. And Daylight Savings Time.

Something most people don’t know about me: I lived in the United Kingdom for a year, doing my dissertation research. I travelled all across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. People who were around at the time—10 years ago—may remember that I was on “Jeopardy.”