“RUSCC RAs on the Run” could be the catchy name of a music band, but acronyms are more mundane in the Geography Department. Alan Kirk began his first day on October 10 as the new "Research Associate" (RA) to Reg Golledge’s "Research Unit on Spatial Cognition and Choice" (RUSCC), replacing Mark Grosch who has moved on to become the Adaptive Technology Specialist for the Disabled Students Program (apologies from the editor for not knowing the acronym).
Mark was Professor Golledge’s RA for seven years but was recently given “an offer he couldn’t refuse” by the Disabled Students Program which he’d previously worked for. Apart from a substantial income increase, Mark admitted that a major factor in his decision to move was the offer of “flextime,” which was particularly appealing to him insofar as his wife Heather, an elementary school teacher, is expecting their first child—not to mention the fact that Mark also works part time at Devereaux and is the President of the Santa Barbara chapter of Habitat for Humanity. You do what you have to do.
Alan Kirk brings an exotic background to the Department, including an MA in Ethnomusicology (UCSB, 2005; thesis: Frame Drums and Rhythmic Spirituality in North America), a BA in Music (CSUN, 1995), several years as an IT specialist at a law firm, fly fishing experience in Venezuela, and having lived in Fez, Morocco. He’s also a member of The Lemon Pickers, an “old timey” band based in Goleta that won the top award at the Goleta Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention on October 9, 2005—he plays washboard, Dobro, harmonica, and spoons with the band. Alan spent years studying the frame drum, he formerly managed a recording studio in Hollywood, and he’s a published science fiction short story writer. Yep, he’s a VIP ("Very Interesting Person")! Please extend a warm welcome to Alan–and don’t bother with lawyer jokes, because he’s heard them all!
