The Q+A- two student, two teachers, each month. This month we sat down with associate director of admissions Ms. Amy Miller.

Conducted by Leigh Jacobson

Editor-in-Chief

Common misconception about teachers: I think teachers are a lot cooler than you might think they are…

Most creative gift, given or received: One of mine and my husband’s best friends is an artist. For our wedding gift he and his father took this amazing collage of photos with all of our bridesmaids and groomsmen and made an effect to make it look like my husband and I are floating on air under the chuppah. It is an amazing piece of art and is hanging in our home.

Movie you’ve seen the most: Love Actually. I have to watch it at least once a year around the holidays! And Shrek.

Book you’ve read most: Before I came to Milken I was a ninth-tenth grade Humanities teacher. I loved reading and teaching The Great Gatsby. My copy of the book is completely marked up and covered with notes. I love that book!

Fictional character you identify with: I’m not sure if there’s a character in particular, but I have always been very interested in contemporary Holocaust literature – that is the subject I did my Master’s work in because it is personal to me as a Jew and granddaughter of someone in the Holocaust. The major focus of my Master’s Thesis was Art Spiegelman’s Maus.

Obsolete item you won’t trash: My expired drivers licenses.

What you wanted to be at age 10: I always dreamt of owning a flower shop.

Student pet peeve: Saying you didn’t get my emails (here’s a hint: it shows if you read it when I press the history button)!

Procrastination technique: Reading cooking blogs, and during the fall, spending a lazy day watching college football. Go Michigan!

Secret hobby:  I love wandering through grocery stores and especially through Farmers’ Markets. I also love taking pictures of fruits and vegetables at Farmers’ Markets. Have you been to Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem? GREAT photo opportunities there! On another note entirely, I get pretty obsessed with March Madness and have a secret talent for picking winners.

Favorite historical figure: MLK. Not only for all of the incredible and important work he did but also because through his speeches and writings I learned how to write persuasively. Read Letter from Birmingham Jail and you will be so inspired!

Favorite piece of art in your home/anywhere: In my home (besides the photo I mentioned above): We have a very cool Lawrence Schiller photograph of Tippi Hedren (from the movie Psycho) driving a car with Alfred Hitchcock’s face in the side view mirror. Anywhere: Studying abroad in Florence in my junior year of college was absolutely incredible. I especially loved visiting the Botticellis in the Uffizi Gallery. (Shout-out to Ms. Flier’s Art History class, which I took in tenth grade when I was a student at Milken! That class really ignited my interest in art.)

Movie star you always wanted to be: Hmm. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be a movie star.

Favorite gadget: Sonos – we can play music anywhere in our house using our iPod, iPad, or laptop.

Topic you love but won’t discuss at a party: All the great stories that come from my admission interviews!

The last meal you had: Chipotle burrito bowl.

Funniest English word(s): Lollygag.

Most memorable teaching experience: Well I don’t teach anymore, but in my job in the Office of Admission our favorite time of year is March and April. We look forward to getting the mail each day to see who of the students we accepted are choosing to come to Milken. With all of the hard work we put into presenting our school, it is so exciting to see the class come together and is a very rewarding feeling to know that families see what an incredible community we have and want to be part of it.

Most-visited website, why: www.tastespotting.com – it’s the gateway to all cooking blogs!

Favorite cancelled-too-soon TV show: I would go with Sex and the City even though it had a good run.  I may or may not have cried when the final episode aired.

Most beloved/interesting item at your office desk: I love the student artwork and architecture models in my office. They are great talking points during interviews and make my office look so nice! (Now I just have to clean up all of my messy papers…)