Alma Mater:
Kiana is a first-generation student, transfer student, and a Double Duck! Kiana received her Bachelors from UC Davis and both a Master’s degree in French and a PhD in Romance Languages from the UO.
What is your best advice for a student just starting here at the University?
Embrace not knowing & ask lots of questions! It's an exciting time to be learning so much, both about the university and about yourself! It is great to ask questions and explore new things. Remember, too, that it's okay to try something (clubs, classes, events, etc.) and then decide if it's right for you or not. Sometimes you won't really know if you enjoy something until you try it.
Do you have any special skills, talents, interests, or hobbies?
I love botany and plants and am always learning more about them. I also love to bake bread, play video games like Zelda & Civilization, and I am currently learning about carpet making. My hobbies are always changing as I learn new things, and my interests range from crafts to baking to animals (crows are my favorite animal) to video games to literature.
What would you be doing if you didn’t work in the CMAE?
If I didn't work at CMAE, I'd likely be a French teacher, which is what I did for 7 years before starting at UO. If not a French teacher, I'd likely be a baker, a plant shop owner, a bird rescuer (that's a job, right?), or a writer.
Office number: 541-346-8856