Ashley Beardsley is the University Writing Center Director, and a scholar of Writing Studies, Cultural Studies, and Food Studies. If you are lucky enough to attend one of the department events when she brought her baked goods this past year, you are indeed lucky. Ashley sat down with The Mirror & the Lamp to take the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your idea of happiness?

Happiness is a warm chocolate chip cookie with slightly crisp edges and a gooey inside. That cookie represents joy, pleasure, and comfort, which shape happiness.

Which living person do you admire most?

Jasmine Cho, cookie activist

When and where are you most happy?

I am happiest when I’m in my kitchen, music blasting, baking.

Which talent would you most like to have?

The talent to learn languages quickly.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d make myself slightly taller so I could reach the absurd kitchen cabinet above the fridge more easily.

Where would you most like to live?

Australia; there are still active greyhound racing tracks, and I’d move there to adopt more of them.

What is your most treasured possession?

The ring my dad gave my mom for their 40th wedding anniversary.

Who are your favorite writers?

Top 3: Stephen King, Sylvia Plath, CA Conrad

If you could choose another occupation, any occupation, what would it be?

Pastry chef/owner of a vegan bakery

What is your motto?

Everything is better with sprinkles!