Staff Profile: Ms Melissa Cogdon
Who are you, what do you do and where can we find you?
I am Melissa Cogdon. I work as a Grants Officer in the Research Services team, and I can be found on the 7th floor of Building C (C7.07). If I’m not there I’m definitely getting a tea in the kitchen…or buying chocolate…or buying more chocolate…
When did you start at Deakin University and what was the role?
I started mid-November last year, replacing Sharna whilst she is on maternity leave. Before that I was working as a Team Leader within the Graduate Studies Office, Swinburne Research. But before my time at Swinburne I was working at Deakin in the School of Nursing as a Clinical Nursing Placements Coordinator. It was the hardest job ever!
Where did you study?
I studied a BA (English Literature and Political Science) at Monash. Ancora Impara! Fun times. Loved every minute of that place, and met my husband there.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Classic INTJ in Myers Briggs terminology. I may have missed my calling as a cult leader, lol.
Nah, I’m not charismatic enough….
I’d say organised, helpful but a classic over-thinker!
What book are you currently reading?
Code of the Woosters by PG Wodehouse, just in time for the book club I have with my besties.
But what I really want to read is War and Peace – I feel like I have to read that before I die (hopefully I will have a good few years yet to achieve that goal, because I will need it!!)
Three favourite films?
I am an absolute sucker for Gone with the Wind, The Godfather, and Music and Lyrics.
What have you done that you are most proud of?
Learning to tie my shoe laces.
Where did you go on recent holidays or best holiday?
Most recently I travelled to London with my sister and spent a month with my brother and some friends who live over there. My sister and I travelled around Cornwall also during that time and had awesome fun searching out Poldark sights and consuming many pasties and Cornish cream tea (scones). (I am such a huge fans of the Poldark novels).
Best holiday ever was the 4 months I spent travelling West Africa in 2001/2. I travelled from Morocco all the way through to Cameroon. I never wanted that trip to end!
Favourite food and drink?
I love any food not cooked by me. The last few years have seen me take up tea drinking in a big way (all except green tea – just not a fan of the green stuff).
What is your favourite movie quote?
“I suggest a new strategy, R2: let the Wookie win.”
What is the one food you wouldn’t want to give up?
Chocolate. Or cheese. Can I keep both? It’s important to have a balanced diet.
Where is the worst place you could get stuck in?
At a tennis clubhouse I visited last Saturday, nobody told me about the dodgy toilet door. It took 10 minutes to escape. That is about as bad as it gets for being stuck.
Do you have any pets?
Well, they are not exactly pets but we do have pigeons….everywhere….I sometimes think of taking up falconry to deal with the flying rats!
Sadly, no pets. I soooo wish I could have a dog or 10. And guinea pigs. And alpacas. But maybe not in a 2 bedroom unit. I am however the proud aunty of an 18 month Old English sheepdog called Paddington and a 6 month Golden Retriever called Barry.
What is your favourite hobby?
I enjoy a game of tennis, and I am also part of a pub trivia group (our team’s called the Lounge Lizards).
I have absolutely no artistic, culinary or craft skills.