The next new faculty member to be featured in a series highlighting the new faculty members at SWOSU is Dr.
Suzanne Dunai, an assistant professor in the social sciences department.
Dr. Dunai grew up in Dallas, “just a little up the road.”
She stayed in Texas for her undergraduate years, and then she went on to New Mexico for her master’s degree and later to California for her doctorate.
While she has always enjoyed history, Dr. Dunai said a study abroad trip during her university years helped her decide on a career path. “When I was getting my degree I did a study abroad in Spain, and I just loved it.
There was so much history there, going all the way back to Rome.
Walking to school I would pass by Roman ruins. It made me really curious about the world and learning more about it,” she said. “And here I am teaching world history.”
The trip to Spain wasn’t the only international trip Dr. Dunai experienced, but she has also been to many other countries.
Australia, Italy, Morocco and Germany were just a few from a long list she mentioned. “I lived in Switzerland for a little while,” she said.
With all her traveling, Dr.
Dunai was able to name a favorite destination. “I’d say my favorite place in the world is Portugal. It’s a really great climate, culture, art, architecture, and history. But everything is in English, which makes it easier,” she said. “Beautiful beaches and beautiful history.”
While Oklahoma is a far cry from Portugal, Dr. Dunai said she and her husband love living in Weatherford. “We’re enjoying it more than we ever imagined,” she said. “It is a big change for us from living in large cities all the time. We’ve been so impressed how quickly the Weatherford community welcomed us in and it’s so easy to talk to people. There’s never any traffic, coming from southern California (the last place Dr. Dunai lived). There are people willing to help out, willing to reach out.”
Just as the Weatherford community has made an effort to make her feel welcome, Dr. Dunai hopes her students will make an effort to better understand other cultures and people groups. “I’m hoping I leave them with a desire to want to explore the world a little bit. Whether that is watching a foreign film or travel or study in a different country — to make the effort to learn about people from different backgrounds and different cultures. For those who don’t travel, they can still have an interest in it and read a book or watch a movie.”
Faculty fast facts
-Go to coffee order?
Americano, but not too much water in it. “So espresso but watered down a bit.”
-Favorite television show?
When she gets a chance to watch something, she likes Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries, Ghosts — the BBC version or The Time Ministry. “Historical comedies are my favorite. It’s good to joke about the past.”
-Dream vacation? Japan -Best Christmas gift received as a child? “Dad traveled for work to Costa Rica and he had enough miles to bring me along for one of his work trips. It was during Christmas break and it was my Christmas gift. It was my first big international trip.”
-Favorite meal? Tortilla espanola.“I’ve written several articles on Spanish cuisine, so it’s not like a Mexican tortilla, but it’s potato and egg and onion cooked in the most delicious way possible. It’s easy to make but hard to get perfect.”
-A book you could read again and again? A League of Extraordinary Women by E.D.
Dunmore -A day that’s not a holiday but should be? Every Monday so we all get one extra day in a weekend.