I Am West Georgia

S. Swamy-Mruthinti

Job title: Professor of Biology and Associate Dean of College of Science and Mathematics.

What I really do: Teach clinically-oriented biology courses, and facilitate research and faculty development at COSM Dean’s office.

Years at UWG: 10 years.

Before UWG, I: Was at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA as a faculty member in Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for 16 years.

One thing I would change about UWG: Find a niche…

I was born in: Tenali, a small town in southern part of India.

Family: Dr. Shyamala Mruthinti (lovely wife) and three wonderful daughters, Harshita, Nayvata and Namrata.

People describe me as: I guess all kinds of names ... some are flattering and some are not.

Most colleagues don’t know that: I can be a stand-up comedian when I am with friends.

Favorite things to do: Play tennis.

Favorite quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi.

Proudest accomplishment so far: Success of my children.

Pet peeve: When students are disrespectful of professors.

Best advice ever received: Stop complaining, get involved.

Best advice for new faculty and staff: Do what I say, not what I do.

What I most want to contribute to students: I want them to reach out and want to learn more. Learning is not confined to classroom.

The book everyone should read: “The World is Flat” by Thomas Friedman.

The movie everyone should watch: Gandhi (1982 biographical film which won 8 Academy awards).

The person, dead or alive, I’d most like to meet: Gandhi.

The place I’d love to travel to where I haven’t been yet: Kashmir Valley, India.

Although you didn’t ask, I’d like to tell you anyway: "Not only does charity begin at home, everything begins at home, including morality and spirituality."