Kendra Van Nyhuis
Where did you go to college?
I went to the University of South Dakota for undergrad, and I have a M.A./Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!).
How long have you been with the College of Engineering?
I started in July 2021. Prior to joining Engineering Student Services, I was a college adviser in the College of Letters and Sciences.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love to help! Cal can be a complicated place to navigate, and if students need information, clarification, advice or support, my goal is to help them get it. I also really enjoy the opportunity to get to know and learn from the students I advise as they grow throughout their undergraduate career.
What advice do you have for students?
Asking questions is the best way to learn, both inside and outside of the classroom. Stay curious and reach out to others for clarification and support!
What is the most unusual job you’ve had?
Maybe not “unusual,” but I worked as a student researcher at the National Music Museum (NMM) in South Dakota, studying East Asian instruments. I spent my days measuring and cataloging East Asian instruments in the NMM’s extensive collection.
What are your favorite TV shows?
I am interested in all things nerdy. I watch Marvel TV shows/movies and anime, but I typically spend more time watching Youtube videos: science, philosophy and video game YouTubers are my favorites. I also love to watch cooking shows but hate actually cooking (I am terrible at it!).
What is your favorite song, band or type of music?
I enjoy rock and electronic genres, but to be honest, I have pretty eclectic tastes in music and listen to a little bit of everything. My Ph.D. is in ethnomusicology, and my research focused on intercultural interactions in underground rock of South Korea. Music is still a big part of my life: I love to play piano and sing, I listen to music constantly and I still enjoy studying and analyzing it.
My pronouns are she/her/hers, be sure to share yours with me.
