Advancement Ally - Elliot Emmer
Senior Associate Director of Development, BCOE
1. What is your full name and is there a meaning or story behind it?
Elliot Leander Emmer. Leander comes from my great-grandfather and Emmer originated from my father's side of the family. Emmer is an ancient grain and I know my great-grandfather was a baker from Austria-Hungary. They were also Jewish.
2. Pronouns:
he/him/his
3. How do you identify yourself or what is something you would like others to know about you?
On appearance, I am a white middle-aged male. What cannot be seen is my Jewish background and genuine desire to treat everyone how they wish to be treated.
4. What is your favorite comfort food?
I can't say I have a go-to comfort food, but I've found that smoothies often make me feel better.
5. What are your favorite cultural or family traditions?
We don't have strong cultural or family traditions. We celebrate Christian, Jewish, and secular holidays. When we do, I especially enjoy Sabbath dinner, or passover sedar. I also enjoy family get-togethers around the major holidays.
6. What is something people wrongly assume about you? (biases, stereotypes, ethnic identity, etc.)
People are often surprised to learn that I have Jewish heritage. I value learning about identity struggles and understand it can happen to anyone at any time.
7. If you could change/create any policy (campus, state or national) what would it be and why?
I would support changes to educational curriculums to include a wider range of history, cultures, peoples, and the struggles that many have faced and currently face in the US and the world. I felt that my K-12 education left out many important topics.
8. If you could have any social justice superpower, what would it be?
This one is difficult because every superpower I can think of has potential severe ramifications. I would want to prevent violent or hateful crimes from being committed.
9. What is something you enjoy doing for others?
I like helping people, either through volunteerism, mentorship, philanthropically, or being someone who they can talk to about anything.
10. What is something that makes you feel most alive?
Traveling in a foreign country. I was once in a town in Spain and decided to sit outside on the patio drinking a glass of wine. I decided it would be great to meet a stranger, so I asked a middle-aged couple walking by to join me. They sat down and I found out they were on holiday from Germany. I don't remember what we talked about, but it was a wonderful, serendipitous experience.
11. If two (or more) worlds (i.e. music, artists, clothing, movies, eras, genres) could collide/collaborate, what would you choose?
Empathy and action. I think so much could be done if these two ideas collided.
12. What is something that should be free but is not?
Higher education. Other countries have found ways to make this happen, I think it should be the same here in the US.
13. Which affiliations/clubs/organizations/hobbies have you been involved in?
Many, but mostly service organizations (Kiwanis, Circle K, Key Club). I joined BFASA at UCR in 2020 and also serve on the UA DEIB Committee.
14. What makes you feel uncomfortable?
Silence. I have a difficult time with silence because I'm the kind of person who likes to fill a space. I'm working on it.
15. What is your favorite thing about working at UCR or your favorite UCR memory?
If it's a memory, it is definitely when I met my wife many moons ago. If it's about working, then it's my colleagues who share the same values and beliefs as I do that everyone deserves access to an excellent education. I also feel that my role has an essential function and that the work wouldn't get done if I wasn't here.