Oxford University Press's
Academic Insights for the Thinking World

Getting to know Aviva LeShaw, Marketing Intern

From time to time, we try to give you a glimpse into our offices around the globe. This week, we are excited to bring you an interview with Aviva LeShaw, a Marketing Intern in the Humanities Department of our New York office.

What’s the first thing you do when you get to work in the morning?

Before I speak to anyone or do anything, I have a big cup of coffee. Strong. With half & half. And on Mondays, lots of sugar, too.

What is your favorite word?

Manifest.” I read it when I was really young and started using it before I actually knew how. It just has a great sound, and comes in handy in so many sentences.

Longest book ever read?

I’ve attempted to read the thousand-page Infinite Jest several times. Does that effort count?

What’s the most enjoyable part of your day?

I’m a morning person, so I like the beginning part of the day where I can map out what I’d like to accomplish. I’m most productive before lunchtime.

What’s the strangest thing currently on your desk?

Nothing too strange…although I do keep lots of blank pieces of paper around, to write disjointed notes to myself. If anyone else reads them, they’re just senseless lists and groupings of words and phrases, but I actually have a rigid system for decoding these. Often at the end of the week I’ll find a pile of little pieces of paper in my bag that I can hardly remember writing.

If you didn’t aspire for a career in publishing, what would you be doing?

In some dream world I’d probably be a professional yogi, although I haven’t gone to a real-life class in several weeks…

Most obscure talent or hobby?

I’ve known the first 64 digits of Pi by heart since 8th grade. It’s pretty useless knowledge except for once a year on Pi Day, when I slip the fun fact into most of my conversations, just to show off.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?

Coffee, some sort of writing instrument, and a big book of modern poetry. With those three things I could have a wonderful, productive time until someone is nice enough to come pick me up.

If you could trade places with one person for a week, who would it be and why?

I’d have to go with J.K. Rowling. She was my childhood hero! And I’m curious to know what it feels like to have written something that created a completely new world for so many children (myself included). Plus, her books helped me form so much of my vocabulary—including the word “manifest”!

What is the most exciting project you have been a part of while working at OUP?

I’ve been working on the OUP Music Twitter account… it’s a great experience to contribute to such an enormous company through even a single tweet. Just a few words and I feel like I’m part of the OUP family!

Featured image credit: “lights,” by halderzs. CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

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