Pat Aikens

Front of House Manager

 

Highlights:

• Worked at MOI since 2022, current position since 2023 (+ volunteered prior)
• Bachelor’s (Rensselaer Polytechnic) and PhD (Emory) in chemistry
• Taught college-level chemistry
• Experience includes chemical R&D, managing groups of scientists

Profile:

Q: Explain what you do at the museum in 20 words or less.

Pat: Front of House Manager – manage the cashiers, help with the store, walk the exhibit floors and help volunteers interact with the visitors.

Q: What’s a museum-related accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?

Pat: There is not one particular thing. I am proud every time a visitor expresses appreciation at being told something interesting about an exhibit that they didn’t know.

Q: What do you do for fun?

Pat: Going out with friends, traveling to new places, outdoor activities like hiking, reading mystery thriller books

Q: What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this (and if money were no object)?

Pat: Work at a wildlife rehabilitation center taking care of animals so they can be re-introduced into the wild.

Q: What’s the weirdest / most interesting past job you’ve had?

Pat: Weirdest – it was just one day when my friend who worked for a catering company asked me to help with serving at a reception. They didn’t have enough dishes or a kitchen and I wound up washing dishes and glasses in a bathroom sink most of the evening

Q: Name a setback in your life that has ended up being a good thing.

Pat: Not getting a job that I really wanted because the one I did get brought me to a great place.

Q: What’s something – large or small, useful or not – that you’re really good at?

Pat: Making holiday dinners for a crowd.

Q: What were you like in high school?

Pat: A lot less confident than I am now.

Q: What’s your favorite book, movie, and TV show?

Pat:

• Book: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
• Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
• TV show: Law & Order

Q: Tell us something about you that might surprise us.

Pat: I like scuba diving.