Matt James, 31, is the assistant dean of Student Affairs at Marshall University. He lives with his wife and two Dachshunds. He was the student body president of Marshall University from 2008 to 2009. He serves as an adviser to the Marshall Student Government Association and the Beta Delta chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. Reporter Alexia Lilly recently interviewed him using a style borrowed from the Marcel Proust/Vanity Fair format, which is designed to reveal the personal side of newsmakers.

Q: What is your most marked characteristic?

A: That’s a deep question for the first question. I would say I’m an engaging person.

Q: What is the quality you most like in a man?

A: In anyone, I like accountability. As one man who mentors other men, and specifically fraternity men, a quality I admire is respect. Specifically, respect of women. Not in a romantic way, but in an equality standpoint.

Q: What is the quality you most like in a woman?

A: I love confidence. I think confidence in a woman is really admirable.

Q: What do you most value in your friends?

A: Loyalty, but not necessarily blind loyalty. I guess I would reframe that and say honesty.

Q: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

A: I care too much about what people think. I think sometimes I need to remind myself who I am, because I know my intentions are always good. I’m a genuine person and a hard worker. Sometimes, I overanalyze and overthink things. I worry about what people think of me when I should care less about that and worry more about if people respect me. I always say yes, but I can’t help myself. I think that’s my mom in me; just wanting to help people. I hate that I cannot say no.

Q: What is your favorite occupation?

A: If I wasn’t here (at Marshall), I would be spending time with my dogs. I love my two little wiener dogs. I think they’re adorable. But, to be really honest with you, I love my job. I love working with students. It’s my favorite occupation. I love being on campus. I love spending time with students. But if not with students, with my two dogs.

Q: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A: I think happiness is something that takes some people a lifetime to find. I think it’s when a person’s desires and their reality find some type of congruency. When you can compromise your wants and needs versus reality, to me that’s happiness. I think happiness is being able to love yourself regardless of your flaws and being able to accept your flaws. Happiness happens within you. When you love yourself, that is the picture of happiness.

Q: What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

A: Airports. I think that speaks for itself, right?

Q: In which country, would you like to live?

A: The United States. I’m passionate about having traveled to other countries, but the liberties, rights and freedoms afforded to this country are so unique. In my opinion, I don’t think there is any other greater country in the world. I love our country, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But if I had to, I would go back to London, because it was cool and they speak English.

Q: Who are your favorite writers?

A: Stephen King. I know it’s creepy, but it’s fun. Nicholas Sparks, don’t make fun of me. The books are better than the movies. And, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Q: Who are your favorite poets?

A: Maya Angelou. Her poems are so real, and you don’t have to think about it. That’s easy.

Q: Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

A: Superman, because he’s able to compartmentalize his life. You know, Clark Kent and Lois; there’s a lot of stress. And unlike Batman, he doesn’t really have a dark side. Superman always respected women. He didn’t have to cover his face. He killed the shades, the Clark Kent glasses. I feel like I kind of look like him.

Q: Who is your favorite heroine of fiction?

A: Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games.”

Q: Who are your favorite composers?

A: Mozart. I love classical music. Bach is cool. He’s a little dark. But, Mozart, he’s my number one.

Q: Who are your favorite painters?

A: Vincent Van Gogh is creepy, but I love the abstract nature of his art. I’m really weird here, too. I love the artist who painted the pretty little trees, Bob Ross. Bob Ross is amazing, not just because he is a pop culture icon. When I was a little boy, I could paint the things he was painting. I love him. I like Andy Warhol, too.

Q: What are your favorite names?

A: Names are important. That’s great. I have always loved the name Elizabeth, because that was my grandmother’s name. It’s my wife’s middle name. Elizabeth is beautiful to me. I’ve always loved the name Sarah. My name means gift from God, so I always tell people that. I do love Matthew. If I wasn’t a Matthew, I think I would still want to be a Matthew. For some reason, I’ve always thought the name Landon was cool. If I ever have a son, I want to name him Landon. I love names of the biblical books. Some of those names are really cool. Also, Charlie. That’s my oldest (dog).

Q: What is it that you most dislike?

A: Intolerance.

Q: Which talent would you most like to have?

A: We all want to be able to sing. I wish I was musically inclined. I would love to be able to play the piano. It’s on my bucket list.

Q: How would you like to die?

A: In my sleep, obviously. I don’t want to feel it, but I also don’t want to be alone. I just hope the people around me are expecting it.

Q: What is your current state of mind?

A: I’m very content. I’m happy. I’m hopeful. I’m optimistic. I’m feeling refreshed today.

Q: What is your motto?

A: Own it, because in life we have to own who we are. We have to own our roles at work. We have to own what we’ve done, what we say and what we do. I often tell students that they’re going to mess up in college. That’s the beautiful thing. You’re going to learn the most when you mess up, but you have to own it. You have to tell people, “I messed up. I’m sorry.”

Alexia Lilly can be contacted at [email protected]