Have you met Kate Pratt, Writing Services Director at the Academic Success Centre in the Office of the Dean of Students? Spend a few minutes getting to know her better.
What is your first U of A memory?
My first U of A memory is walking by the Rutherford Library when I was visiting campus for a
conference. It was snowing, and the library was lit up. I got to see the amazing collection of
books. All the graduate students were so nice. I decided to go to the U of A to finish my
graduate work.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
I like visiting Jasper, Banff and Waterton; however, I am tragically bad at skiing. There are
stories.
What’s your favourite distraction?
I really like the game Tiles on the NYT website. It is addicting and relaxing.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
At Writing Services, we work with some Human Ecology students. I am fascinated by textiles
and culture. I would have to say that I would take a course in Human Ecology.
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
When people talk during a movie or show. Don’t tell me what happens. I haven’t seen it yet.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
I would invite the author Jhumpa Lahiri. They have a mesmerizing writing style. I would like to
learn more about how their experiences in India and the United States shaped their novels.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I would go to Shakespeare’s Globe in London. I would pick a comedy and a tragedy. If I could
only pick one, I would go with the tragedy. There is a performance of Titus Andronicus on right
now, and I can’t resist a revenge tragedy with a banquet scene.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
I always knew I wanted to study English. The advice I would give my younger self? You will still
need math!
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Vi’s For Pies in Edmonton. I try to go there every few months. They have a great selection of
cakes. You can’t go wrong!
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Collaborative
Creative
Innovative
About Kate
Kate Pratt is the Writing Services Director at the Academic Success Centre in Office of the Dean of Students. Kate’s previous research focused on representations of murder and adultery in early modern English domestic drama. She has fond memories of teaching courses in the English Department at the U of A. In her spare time, Kate enjoys running, cooking and writing. Her guilty pleasures are chocolate and crime fiction.