Get to know... Carmen Wu

This month, we’re excited to highlight Carmen Wu, Student Commons Administrator at the Alberta School of Business, whose creativity, warmth, and love for storytelling bring a thoughtful and engaging presence to the student community.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?

When I was in the sixth grade, I wanted to dress up as a witch for Halloween. For a week, I practiced cackling to perfect a witch’s laugh. I didn’t end up going as a witch, but since then I’ve learned how to make some interesting noises. I can whistle to sound like a bird warbling and I can imitate the sounds of a dolphin chirping. When I was a teacher, one of my favourite aspects was reading stories aloud with different voices to my students and making the characters come to life!

What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or day off?

 My favourite way to spend a day off starts with sleeping in. I also love trying new restaurants or testing out a recipe that’s caught my eye. When I can, I like to wrangle my nieces and nephews into trying something new or, failing that, taking them out to (hopefully) have a fun time.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

For somewhere new, I would love to go somewhere in the Mediterranean, such as Italy or Greece. The diverse landscapes, the rich history, the tantalizing cuisine, I want to experience it all! Aside from that, while I have already been a few times, I’d love to go to Japan again. I’ve always enjoyed myself whenever I visited and there are so many regions to explore.

What’s a hobby or skill you’ve recently picked up (or would like to try)?

Something I would like to try is making crepe paper flowers. I’ve seen a few videos and I was surprised by how realistic and beautiful they turned out.

What’s a book, movie or TV show you’re currently enjoying?

While not technically any of the above, On the Way to Meet Mom is a tale that I have been utterly captivated by. It has incredible artwork along with a heartwarming story, following a young boy who, upon learning what a mom is, goes on a journey in search of his own. If you are looking for a short and touching story, I absolutely recommend it!

Do you have a favorite meal or go-to comfort food?

My favourite meal has to be my dad’s homemade pan fried dumplings. Whenever I try dumplings elsewhere, I always end up comparing them to my dad’s. As for my go-to comfort food, it would be the now discontinued frozen Delissio deluxe pizza.

Can you share a bit about your role and what brought you to the Alberta School of Business?

My role is the Student Commons Administrator, where I assist with managing the Carruthers Student Commons space, though you will see me supporting the operations in the General Office as well. My background is in Elementary Education and, though the students are a little older than who I used to work with, I’m glad to be supporting an institution of learning, innovation, and empowerment.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with a new colleague joining the school?

I haven’t been here for very long, but I would say don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There is a lot to learn, but everyone I’ve worked with has been very patient and understanding as I adjust here, even with my multitude of questions.