I sat down with social work professor Angela Muhs for the Dakota Student’s first Teacher Feature.

Q: What classes are you teaching this semester?

A: I am teaching Social Work 434, “Generalist Practice with Task and Treatment Groups.” It is a class dedicated to working with groups and understanding group dynamics.

Q: What is your favorite
color?

A: I really like any shade of blue.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: Currently I am into “Parks and Recreation” on Netflix, but “Friends” or “The Office” are always great choices, too.

Q: Favorite food?

A: My Grandma Joyce’s homemade potato dumplings, cheese pockets or lefse.

Q: The last book you read?

A: I read the Elizabeth Smart biography and have just started the Kendra Wilkenson biography.

Q: The last movie you saw in theaters?

A: “Star Wars” with my family.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A:  We do have pets. We have a 12-year-old golden retriever named Charlie who used to work with me doing animal-assisted therapy. We also have a cat, Tiger.

Q: How long have you lived in North Dakota?

A: I have lived in ND my whole life. I grew up in Langdon, N.D., and moved to Grand Forks after high school to start college at UND.

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: I wanted to be a singer in second grade -— and have the awesome neon report to prove it. Unfortunately, I am a
horrible singer. I also considered
becoming a veterinarian.

Q: What was your first paying job?

A: My first job was working at the local bowling alley in Langdon. I cooked, cleaned, waitressed, provided shoes, ran the stereo for cosmic bowling and fixed minor pin malfunctions. I made $5 per hour and felt awesome about it. I had quite the first resume.

Prior to that, my friend and I started a painting and staining business when we were 12. Looking back, our families were our only customers.

Q: What country that you haven’t been to would you like to visit?

A: I would really enjoy visiting any tropical island countries. I’m not picky.

Q: If you could travel back in time, which time period would you visit?

A: I think it would be interesting to travel back to the 1950s. Things seemed simpler then with less electronics and more family time.

Q: If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things with you, what would you bring?

A: I would bring chopsticks, my family and matches.

Q: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

A: I would say that I am more of an extrovert. I have my moments, though, where I am quieter.

Q: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

A: I think it would be fun to be a dog for a day (with a nice family). How great to find joy in everything you do!

Q: If someone were to make a movie about your life, who would you want to play you?

A: I would choose Reese Witherspoon. She seems down to earth and family centered.

Q: What is your favorite band and/or singer?

A: I really don’t have one. I like most types of music. My favorite options are ’80s rock or pop.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I absolutely love getting to know the students. I feel we learn so much from each other throughout the year. It is my
favorite part about teaching.

Q: What’s your favorite
holiday?

A: I love Easter.

Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

A: I have eaten blood klub as a child. My family told me it was “meat.” Turns out it was blood. Gross! It was my favorite meal growing up until I learned what it was.

Q: Would you rather live in a rural area or a big city?

A: Absolutely a rural area. Is Grand Forks rural? I dislike the traffic when we go to larger cities and couldn’t handle that day in and day out. I love the connections made by people in a rural area and the space.

Q: Would you rather go skydiving or deep-sea diving?

A: I would rather go deep-sea fishing. I am not a fan of heights so voluntarily jumping out of a plane seems off to me.

Q: Batman or Superman?

A: Wonder Woman

Q: Spring or fall?

A: Fall. It is always fun to bust out the sweaters and boots again.

Q: Coke or Pepsi?

A: I’ve tried to quit drinking most pop, but would choose Diet Coke overall.

Q: What’s your favorite college newspaper?

A: The Dakota Student. That’s an easy one!

Alisabeth Otto is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected]