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By Marla Osti '10
Middle school students watch anxiously as their teacher paces
the front of the classroom with a look of deceit in his eyes. He
acts as a lion, crouching behind tall grass, secretly deciding
which antelope will be his prey. The teacher notices a student
with her hand up. He calls on her. “Amanda Gray, what is the
answer to the problem written on the board?” With her body
overflowing with nervousness and a burst of confidence, she
answers, “Negative zero.” The antelope has fallen victim to the
lion.
“That was my most embarrassing moment,” says Dr. Amanda Gray,
a Memphis-born assistant professor of psychology at Oglethorpe
University. “I never was good at math, but I have always been
fascinated by people. I like to read, especially for the
enjoyment of the characters. I am always interested in why
people do the things that they do.”
Those interests influenced her to major in psychology and
English literature at Agnes Scott, a liberal arts college for
women in Decatur. She then earned her master’s and doctorate
from University of Georgia.
“I love teaching at a small liberal arts school,” she says.
“I couldn’t be at a big state university.”
Gray, settling into her role at Oglethorpe, is currently
conducting a commuting study with one of her professors from
Agnes Scott. Upper-level psychology students are assisting with
the study, which examines how a person’s commute influences
their mood during the day.
In her free time, Dr. Gray enjoys running, yoga and reading.
She also likes scrap booking, pictures and movies. “I’m very
hyperactive; I’m just a ball of energy.” Her favorite book is
one about identity called Middlesex written by Jeffrey Eugenides.
“I have read it once and listened to it once on tape,” she says.
“I listen to all sorts of music, but I really like bluegrass and
folky rock.”
“Too many people focus too much on improvement in their
lives. Finding a balance between improvement or growth and
appreciation for where you are and what you have is key for me.” |
