Advancement Ally - Tracy Telliard
Director of Alumni Volunteer Engagement, Office of Alumni Engagement
1. What is your full name and is there a meaning or story behind it?
My full name is Tracy Lynn Telliard. The story goes that my parents couldn’t agree on what to name me, so as my due date approached, my mom was inspired by seeing the tennis player Tracy Austin on the cover of a magazine and proposed the name. (Ironically, I never ended up playing any sports). Lynn is the middle name of my mom’s sister, my godmother. Telliard is my married name – my maiden name is Zetts, reflecting my dad’s Slovakian ancestry.
2. Pronouns:
She/her/hers
3. How do you identify yourself or what is something you would like others to know about you?
I identify as a straight, cisgendered woman of European descent, an ally, and someone who has always cared deeply about marginalized groups. I was involved in music and theater growing up and made many friends in the gay community, so I’ve always been a strong ally for this community in particular. In high school, our Gay Straight Alliance club had lapsed so I re-launched it with some friends. Little did I know that a few years later, my own mom would come out (my parents divorced when I was in college). She has been with her partner for 13 years and they will be getting married next year. My dad remarried 5 years ago, so my daughter has 4 grandmas (including my mother in law), which I think is pretty awesome.
4. What is your favorite comfort food?
Pasta, cheese, and pasta covered in cheese.
5. What are your favorite cultural or family traditions?
My paternal grandmother, before she passed, would always make nutroll at Christmas time - a traditional Eastern European pastry featuring a spiral of a sweet nut filling. After she passed away in 2015, I’ve provided it for my family every year using a combination of the handwritten recipe she shared with me when I was in high school and some online recipes to make my own version. It just isn’t Christmas morning without nutroll and coffee.
6. What is something people wrongly assume about you? (biases, stereotypes, ethnic identity, etc.)
Because of my dark brown hair and tan skin, most people assume I’m Hispanic/Latina and can speak Spanish (my high school and college classes didn’t get me that far). I’ve also been asked if I were several other ethnicities, including Middle Eastern or Pacific Islander over the years. I can’t count the number of times people have asked “what are you?” Or “what is your background?” in an attempt to place my look. In recent years I’ve resorted to responding with a riddle: sharing mine, my mom’s and my maternal grandma’s maiden names. They correspond with my background of 50% Slovak, 25% Portuguese, and 25% mix-of -European-mostly-German. It’s fun to turn people’s question back on them. And now you know! It's also awkward having to respond to literally everyone who wonders how someone with my complexion had a blonde-haired, blue-eyed child. Recessive genes, people!
7. If you could change/create any policy (campus, state or national) what would it be and why?
I would make same sex marriage and a woman’s right to her own body the law of the land. On campus, and on a less serious note, I would make it a lot easier to contract with outside venues!
8. If you could have any social justice superpower, what would it be?
I would instantly eradicate all sexism, racism and prejudice.
9. What is something you enjoy doing for others?
I love creating community for others, which makes my current job such a lovely fit. Being able to work with our alumni and give them a sense of connection through regional and affinity groups is something I love doing in my personal life too. I’ve served as the IE regional chapter president for my own alma mater, and created an affinity group for my MA in Higher Education Leadership. I also served as the membership chair for the Junior League of Riverside, a local women’s volunteer leadership organization where I made almost all of my friends after moving to Riverside from San Diego. Being able to welcome new members and give them the same sense of community I’d found was a good use of my abilities and interests.
10. What is something that makes you feel most alive?
I love being in nature – the beach, the mountains, or even my own backyard, and I love traveling. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to Europe a few times and love to be surrounded by history there.
11. If two (or more) worlds (i.e. music, artists, clothing, movies, eras, genres) could collide/collaborate, what would you choose?
As a kid I wanted to write a Broadway musical based on Queen music. Turns out there was one, called “We Will Rock You,” but I saw it and it wasn’t very good. So I’d like a better one.
12. What is something that should be free but is not?
Childcare, healthcare, basic needs. As a world, we have enough to go around if we’d just allocate things differently.
13. Which affiliations/clubs/organizations/hobbies have you been involved in?
Choir (middle school, high school, and college!), musical theatre (high school and college performer but a fan for life), Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, University of San Diego Inland Empire Torero Club, USD Founders Chapel Choir Alumni Affinity Group, Junior League of Riverside, Fox Riverside Theater Foundation board, UCR Advancement DEIB Committee, UCR Staff Assembly Involvement and Recognition Committee
14. What makes you feel uncomfortable?
Institutions and groups having trouble shaking their racist and sexist histories…like country clubs. Ironically, I’m married to a former professional golfer but he recognizes and agrees with me on these issues! I’m also not good at all with confrontation or drama so please just be my friend instead.
15. What is your favorite thing about working at UCR or your favorite UCR memory?
I love the diversity on campus. UCR is the 4th university I’ve worked for, and by far the best at serving a diverse population. At Commencement, the CHASS Dean said he calls UCR “the university of today’s America” and I couldn’t agree more.