Oral history interview with Elisha Gutloff, 2017

B. Hedrick: My name is Brittany Hedrick, and today is Thursday, February 23, 2017. I'm in Parrish Library with Elisha Gutloff, class of 1992, to conduct an oral history interview for the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection. Thank you, Miss Gutloff, for participating in this project and sharing your experiences with me. I'd like to start the interview by asking you about your childhood. Could you tell me when and where you were born?

E. Gutloff: Sure. I was born in 1970, in New York City. I grew up in Manhattan, in an area called Spanish Harlem. Grew up as a single child, or you know, single child, and just grew up in what I now consider just kind of a crazy and chaotic atmosphere, if you will, growing up in an urban city.

B. Hedrick: Yeah. Okay. So, what did your parents do?

E. Gutloff: My mom worked as an administrative assistant for various companies. She actually, sort of when computers were not necessarily kind of mainstream, 00:01:00but she worked for Xerox for a little while, and then transitioned into working as an administrative assistant for MasterCard International. But growing up, she's always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so she would often let her creative flair, if you will, come out, and she was very big into fashion, and of course growing up in New York, and living in New York, and just having that accessibility to fashion and the industry, she would always make her own clothes, and she would put on little fashion shows, and so from a very young age I kind of learned to have also and embrace that entrepreneurial spirit, as well.

B. Hedrick: Okay, and where did you go to high school?

E. Gutloff: I went to Manhattan Center for Science and Math. Pretty much probably from about fifth or sixth grade moving forward, I had this passion for science and math, but what was odd about attending my high school was that they 00:02:00introduced dance as an alternative to taking PE. And so, I started taking dance classes in addition to my science courses and my math courses, and really just developed a passion for dance which is how I ended up at UNCG.

B. Hedrick: Oh, okay. Well, what year did you graduate from high school?

E. Gutloff: I graduated in '88.

B. Hedrick: Okay, and so I guess my next question is why did you choose UNCG? I'm guessing it has something to do with dance?

E. Gutloff: Yes. I chose UNCG for a few different reasons. I had never been outside of New York, and just wanted to see a different culture, different way of life. I did apply to some universities in Upstate New York, because I did want that on campus experience, versus staying in the city and commuting to 00:03:00school. However, I really just wanted to see something different, and sort of find out what the Southern hospitality, and Southern culture was all about. And then the more research I did, I realized that UNCG had a wonderful dance program, and I did not start dancing personally until later in life, for dancers, which was high school, and so my technique, while I felt was fairly good, I did not feel was as competitive or as strong as if I had stayed in New York.

B. Hedrick: Okay. Could you tell me about your first days on campus, and was it what you had expected?

E. Gutloff: It was strange in the sense that everyone was so friendly, and so again, I grew up in a place where no one speaks to each other. You don't make 00:04:00eye contact. It's all about the hustle and bustle, and your own world, so it did take some time to just acclimate to the friendliness, if you will. For the first couple of weeks, I was pretty much a loner. It seemed like many of the other students either had family members, or friends from high school that were attending UNCG with them, so... And then I also had a flux of roommates, probably my first two months on campus, so whether or not my roommates decided to transfer to another dorm, to move in with a friend, or it just wasn't... UNCG wasn't a good fit, so it took a while for me to really find a good roommate that I could build that friendship with.

E. Gutloff: But I would say after about the first month, I adjusted fairly well, and by the time I started taking more classes on campus, and getting to know 00:05:00people, I certainly had an abundance of friends, and I didn't feel as much of a loner on campus.

B. Hedrick: Okay. And so, you mentioned dorms. What were the residence halls that you lived in?

E. Gutloff: I lived on campus all throughout my junior year, and I lived in Reynolds Hall the entire time, and I loved it. It sort of reminded me of home, because of the tall buildings on campus, they're called the high rises. I grew up in an apartment building, so it was sort of similar. It seemed to be, at that time, where everyone sort of congregated, be it a nice day outside and students were sitting outside, and you just kind of watched the campus life, and cars going by, but it to me, had a very urban sort of city feel, if you will, on campus. So, I loved it.

B. Hedrick: What did you do for fun?

E. Gutloff: For fun, I would mostly attend events on campus, like Spring Fling. I early on was very involved with Neo-Black Society and their, at the time, they had a dance troupe. They also had a gospel choir, which I did not sing in, but I went to a lot of their events. But I participated a lot with the dance troupe. Occasionally, I would venture off campus and go to the mall, just again, to sort of explore the city a little bit. But mainly just any opportunity where there was some sort of social gathering on campus, be it a party in Cone Ballroom, I would just definitely take advantage of attending those events.

B. Hedrick: So, what social and academic events really stand out in your mind during your time at UNCG?

E. Gutloff: So, what I think stands out the most was the sense of giving back to the community at a very early time in my time on campus. And without necessarily really understanding UNCG's motto of service, as a dance major, I was invited to work with some students that were elementary age to middle school age, that were in High Point on the weekends. There was a teacher that was teaching at High Point, and she was wanting to start a small dance class in High Point for her daughter, but also her daughter's friends in the community, and so she reached out to the University, and they connected her with me, to see if there was any interest.

E. Gutloff: And I would say that is really where I learned not only that sense 00:08:00of service and giving back to the community, but it also gave me another option in terms of a career as a dance major. I started in performance, and was really focusing my studies on the performance aspect, but after working with the students, the thought came to me, "I could really teach dance, as well," and just the enjoyment of that, fostering that creativity in others, and then again, being part of the community. We would do a variety of performances off campus. Sometimes they were invited on campus. And so that, during my time here, in terms of any social opportunities, was something that I think I really was able to take advantage of.

E. Gutloff: On campus, I did a lot of choreography for the Neo-Black Society dance troupe, as well as performing with them. In hindsight, I wish that I had 00:09:00gotten involved in more activities, like maybe student government, but I was very, very focused on really building my dance technique, as well as my studies here. So pretty much anything I did that was an extracurricular activity, was really dance related, or movement related.

B. Hedrick: Do you recall your favorite course in either the Dance Department or in general?

E. Gutloff: Yes. So, about... I think it was the end of my freshman year, there was a student who was getting his Master's degree here, and he had also been performing with the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, so he offered an African dance class, as well, and so when I was in high school, there were also members of the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble that were teaching in my high school dance class, so just, again, to have that connection 00:10:00here at North Carolina was just... That was like my absolute favorite class.

E. Gutloff: You didn't necessarily have to be as concerned with technique, but it was just the live drums, and just the culture, and just wearing the garb, and doing performances again on campus. That was sort of my outlet to not be as focused on technique, but that was one of my favorite courses here, as well as just the dance history, and just learning about the evolution of dance, and movement, and it's not just the world of ballet, but there's so many other options that are available to you as a dance major.

B. Hedrick: That's really cool. So, what other professors made an impression on you? And what was the name of the professor who taught that class?

E. Gutloff: His name was Sherone Price. He was a grad student.

B. Hedrick: Okay.

E. Gutloff: At the time. But they did, because of his specialty area, allowed him to teach classes. My freshman year, the biggest... The professor that had the largest impact, I would say is Gay Cheney. Dr. Gay Cheney. And again, it just really opened my mind, my studies here, to all that you could encompass within a dance major, and so I was so anxious about having the technique, and again, knowing that I started dancing late in life. She really helped me to foster that sense of creativity, through use of improvisation. She was more of a focus on cultures from different cultures and movement, so I remember my freshman year, I had auditioned for one of her pieces, and it was about 00:12:00aboriginal tribes.

E. Gutloff: And so, it was just completely different from what you would think, your basic eight count, we're going to perform this way throughout. It allowed me the option to be creative and improv, so that each night it was a different performance, and that, I think at that point is when I really felt that I had made the right decision in choosing my major, because again, it wasn't all about, "Your arm has to be here. When you extend your legs, it has to be at a certain angle." It was more about the expression and the creativity.

E. Gutloff: And then as I continued throughout the years, Jan van Dyke was very instrumental in terms of talking about modern dance, and there is a technique to modern dance, but even so, not as rigid, if you will, as ballet, and structured, 00:13:00but definitely started to enhance my technique, and just my performance ability by working with Jan van Dyke.

E. Gutloff: And then lastly, once I decided to tie in my certification for dance education with my degree, Dr. Sue Stinson was... I mean, she was phenomenal. A lot of my friends thought I had an easy major as a dance major, but Sue Stinson definitely prepared students that were studying dance education, specifically, to really find their way in the education system, where dance is not always an accepted elective. And sort of as an arts program overall, dance is usually, when it comes to funding, the first program that's cut. So, she really prepared her students to really be able to defend and support why dance education is 00:14:00important, how it ties in to other studies, like history, and math, and social studies. How she prepared us with lesson plans, as a result of just what she brought to the education department in our dance department. I ended up my first year out of college writing the curriculum for middle school dance in Wake County.

E. Gutloff: So, I just... I was just really, really pleased with my experience with dance education, and working with Dr. Sue Stinson, as well.

B. Hedrick: Okay. So, you graduated in 1992, and what did you do after you graduated?

E. Gutloff: I taught middle school in an area... I taught at two middle schools in Wake County. One was in Apex, and the other was in Fuquay-Varina, so I was split between the two schools, but worked as a dance teacher, as an elective. 00:15:00Which was, again, for those areas of Wake County, which are more rural, right outside of the Raleigh-Durham area, was something new, that the students had not been exposed to previously, and it was, again, it was just a great experience bringing everything that I learned to those students.

E. Gutloff: And I even continued... While I was teaching there, I still would come back to High Point, and I was still teaching those classes locally on Saturdays, that I was teaching when I was here on campus. So, that was pretty neat, as well. To then bring everything together, and everything I had learned, and just watching those students grow, and develop, and watching them with their interest in dance, and seeking out dance in their high schools as they became older.

B. Hedrick: So, how have you been involved with UNCG since you graduated?

E. Gutloff: So, since graduation, I have worked, or am currently working with the board of directors, as vice president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and I always sort of internally was wondering how I could become more involved. With the Alumni Association, or just with the university overall, and was actually invited to work with the Neo-Black Society, the alumni, from the alumni perspective. We were working, at that time, towards our 50th anniversary, which will be next year, and so by joining that committee, and just starting to sort of come back on campus, and become more engaged, that path led me to 00:17:00working as a board member for the Alumni Association.

E. Gutloff: I have been with the board now about seven to eight years, so I enjoy it. I love giving back to alumni, giving back to the community. It's just, again, just a great sense of camaraderie, and just every time I'm on campus, just reconnecting with... Whether it's students I'm connecting with, or reconnecting with alumni, professors, watching the Dance Department evolve, it's just been a great experience to be a part of the Alumni Association.

B. Hedrick: And so what is your current title?

E. Gutloff: Current title is Vice President for the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association.

B. Hedrick: Okay, and so what does the job require, and what is your role? Just 00:18:00to elaborate.

E. Gutloff: Sure, so in my role, I also, within the board work with or chair the communications committee. So, I also... I'd say my primary responsibility is a lot of the social media content for Facebook, for Twitter, LinkedIn, really focusing on engaging alumni, and creating content that will drive them to our website, but also to all of our social media platforms. As Vice President, in working with the executive committee, kind of that role is more focused on the logistics of the board, if you will. What sort of initiatives are prominent, here is there a gap, if you will.

E. Gutloff: I'd say one of the challenges is trying to be everything for 00:19:00everyone, and so of course there's always alumni that are just always on our website, they're always on our social media, they always come to homecoming, but what sort of programs can you offer to those that are not as engaged? So, kind of our main focus is just looking at different ways we can engage. Maybe it's the decade from the 70s and the 80s, but what kind of content, what kind of programs can we create where we will get them to be more involved, come back to the university, see all the changes that have happened.

E. Gutloff: I think the central piece is always the engagement piece, and how do we get alumni engaged, but that always... It's always changing, because there is always... There's the young alumni, there's the WC era, there's the first males 00:20:00that have been on campus, so it's that challenge of how to be visible and in front of all of those different affinity groups.

B. Hedrick: Since you mentioned challenges, what do you like most about working with the Alumni Association?

E. Gutloff: What do I find most challenging?

B. Hedrick: Or what do you like most?

E. Gutloff: Oh, what do I like most. I like learning the history. I've learned so much more as an alumni about traditions that I didn't necessarily know about while I was a student on campus. Sort of like I mentioned previously, just in hindsight, I wish that I had become involved as a student in so many more organizations on campus. What I enjoy most, quite honestly, is really sharing my 00:21:00story. I mean, I basically moved here from New York City and never went back home. Greensboro is, to me, my second home. I mean, I live in Durham now, but every time I come back on campus, it's just... It brings back great memories. It just, it feels very comfortable, and so I really like meeting new alumni that are joining the Board, sharing stories, there's so much that we have in common, hearing their experiences, and I think the more we tell our stories as alumni, the more we tell that off campus, tell that story off campus, the more it opens the door to just expose UNCG for just how great a university it is.

B. Hedrick: Is there anyone on the board that sticks out to you?

E. Gutloff: Gosh, there's several. There's... And honestly, right now it's 00:22:00mainly the alumni engagement staff. It's a small group of staff, but they do so much to engage alumni, to be present on campus, to really just facilitate that understanding that UNCG is home, and that it's a place where alumni can come back, whether it's to mentor students on campus, whether it's just to reconnect with other alumni during reunion, to just have fun during homecoming. If you were in a sorority or fraternity, just maintaining those connections, but I think the alumni engagement staff, they work so closely with the Board of Directors, and really they're the ones that... They're the soldiers on the field, if you will.

E. Gutloff: As a Board member, it is a volunteer position. Many of us live outside of Greensboro, as well as outside the state, so while we are pioneers in our own areas, our own local regions, it's really the alumni engagement staff that helps for us, keeping us together, as well as bridging those gaps between the students and alumni.

B. Hedrick: Yeah. Since you live in Durham, are you able to interact with many current students?

E. Gutloff: Not as often as I would like. I do participate, probably more often with the Neo-Black Society, and again, as working with the Neo-Black Society Alumni Committee, a lot of times the students will invite us to come back on campus for their own networking opportunities, or just to participate in some of the events they host on campus. I also work with the Raleigh Regional Network, 00:25:0000:24:00so we also host several events in our community, and from time to time, the student ambassadors may travel to Raleigh, so I will interact with them if they are in the Raleigh-Durham area for an event.

E. Gutloff: But certainly moving forward, as much as possible, enjoy coming back to campus to engage with students. I do have several friends that are on campus, or students now, that are going to grad school, just kind of as a result of kind of knowing this is my alma mater, and just have expressed interests in, again, listening to my story, and have chosen UNCG as their place to further their career, so I do also interact with them when I'm on campus, as well.

B. Hedrick: How do you think... How are the current students at UNCG different from yourself and your graduating class?

E. Gutloff: I don't see a difference. I think they're really the same in terms of their curiosity to find their way in the world, if you will, and their time here at UNCG, there's always that anxiety of life after UNCG, and making their transition. That curiosity and wanting to hear from alumni, specific to their studies, specific to their major, how do I become successful in this career? Wanting to know and get your input from an alumni perspective of tips to be successful, best ways to interview or present your resume, so I always see that passion from current students.

E. Gutloff: I think maybe one difference, and maybe it's just kind of my personal difference, I do enjoy that I see them more engaged, and definitely more vocal in terms of having a presence on campus. Where I was really focused on just my dance degree, and getting through in four years, where I did not give myself an opportunity to focus more so on extracurricular opportunities, I am impressed by the amount of students that I meet that have so many outside social activities that they're involved in. So, I'd probably say that's the biggest difference, but ultimately I think that passion is there. I think that's the same. Just the motivation to just explore all of the options that are available to them, to really connect with their faculty, with alumni, and just really take 00:27:00advantage of the experience they have on campus.

B. Hedrick: I wanted to ask you about your interactions with the different chancellors. Chancellor Moran, perhaps the new Chancellor, Gilliam.

E. Gutloff: Okay, I had very limited interaction with Chancellor Brady. At the time I had joined the board, she was having some health challenges. That was towards sort of the end of her career at the university. However, what I was most impressed with was just her commitment to really exposing UNCG for its greatness. And then her involvement with making sure that her successor, Chancellor Gilliam, had a wonderful transition onto campus.

E. Gutloff: So, the chancellor that I've had the most exposure to has been 00:28:00Chancellor Gilliam, and what I've learned is just, again, that dedication to building rapport with students, with faculty, with parents, and then also with alumni, which I think is very, very important to start building those connections. The fact that he is really engaged with students, being available to students, his drive for, again, wanting to expose the university for its greatness. We are great at so many things, I just... I love his passion and dedication, and sort of thinking outside of the box when it comes to leading the university, working with alumni, and just his presence on campus overall.

B. Hedrick: So, how do you encourage other alumni to get involved with the University?

E. Gutloff: It usually starts by way of mouth, and inviting them to events. So, we have several regional networks within the state, and also outside of the state, so anytime that I am traveling, so for instance if I go to DC, I know that there's a regional network in DC, so I'm always just constantly reaching out to alumni that I'm aware of in various cities. And always encouraging them to either come back on campus, or to attend an event in their area. I also love social media, so anytime I'm on campus, I'll tag friends in the area, just again, to make them feel part of anything that may be happening on campus.

E. Gutloff: Always, always reaching out to all of my friends, to at least come 00:30:00back for homecoming. And I talk about UNCG so much now, that even my friends whose children are at that junior, senior level in high school, they're now coming to me saying, "My daughter's thinking about going into nursing." Well, let me tell you about UNCG School of Nursing.

E. Gutloff: And so again, just, again, making those connections, and just really... Just talking about my experience. Just, again, my passion for the university, my experience on the board, because I do think it's important to give back in some capacity, and you don't have to be a board member to serve, but you certainly can attend events, whether it's a Chancellor's event, whether it's a Greek affiliated event, but any opportunity that I know I will be on 00:31:00campus, I always invite my friends that still live in the area to come back on campus and enjoy the event with me, as well.

B. Hedrick: Are there any particular accomplishments or events that you've played a role in with the Alumni Association, of which you are particularly proud?

E. Gutloff: I think what I'm most proud of is... are the regional networks, and being a part of those regional networks, because within those networks, that's where I feel you're able to really foster that sense of community, outside or beyond the university level. And many alumni don't realize that once you graduate, you're automatically a member of the Alumni Association, and I think it's something that has started... Kind of started as a very small group, but 00:32:00really has just grown to be a really just successful sort of... It kind of is just a self working network of people that come together, and then just realizing how many alumni are in your area after graduation, that you can meet with socially, also for networking, to just again, relive experiences, talk about things that are happening in your life.

E. Gutloff: As we change, as we continue to grow, and you start to build other bonds, whether it's entrepreneurs, whether it's single mothers, but just all the connections that are made after graduating, I'd say my work with the regional networks has probably been the most satisfying. We host volunteer events, so we're very big on, again, that motto of service, giving back to the community, 00:33:00going into high schools, doing high school career fairs, talking about UNCG and why you should come to UNCG. Again, it's the wealth of knowledge. The more you talk to other alumni and you hear their experiences, although I was a dance major, I feel very comfortable talking about our School of Business, I feel comfortable talking about School of Education. It just gives me a platform to really share UNCG's rich traditions and history, and reasons why students should attend UNCG, but with my local community.

B. Hedrick: Yeah. Well, you've talked about this a little bit, but could you tell me about how attending UNCG has impacted and affected your life?

E. Gutloff: Yes. So, I have had several career paths since leaving UNCG. After 00:34:00teaching for six years, I went into the restaurant industry, restaurant management, and then also had a career in real estate, and currently back in restaurant management industry. But everything that I've learned at UNCG, even though it was within the dance realm, if you will, has definitely prepared me for all of my career paths.

E. Gutloff: And I think one of the biggest impacts was just that that sense of... I think of independence, and being an independent thinker. Learning how to think outside of the box. Using whatever creative talents you have to then combine that in an industry where you have a lot of structure, and maybe they don't always allow for that creativity, but from my studies at UNCG, I've 00:35:00learned how to sort of bring that creativity to a structure that's a little bit more rigid by encouraging my peers, or managers, or even your staff, if you will, to allow for more creative expression in their work. And just working as a team, really putting your work, your best work forward.

E. Gutloff: So, for instance, when I was working as a teacher, and learning how to make those connections, if you have students that are not as strong in a particular subject, how can I use dance, or how can I use movement, something that they're highly engaged in, and then use that interdisciplinary teaching, to again, bring the gap and make some of those connections, and lift them up in another area where they may have been weaker as a student. And all of that has 00:36:00really just, I feel, has been from really just tapping into that creative part of yourself, where you know your bookwork, you know your coursework, you can study, and you can prepare, but in terms of really how do you foster creativity in someone else, and how do you help people think beyond their limits, and achieve success beyond what they may see as their limit?

E. Gutloff: But I just have great things to say about the university. I mean, I really don't know where I would be today if I did not make this move to North Carolina, and to UNC Greensboro. It has really opened me up to... I don't know 00:37:00if it's the summer charm or culture, if you will, but really being more open to people, and again, sharing my story, sharing my experiences, and listening to the needs of others. It's just really, really changed my whole world, and my sense of coming from an urban city, where everyone is really just focused on themselves, and translating that into being available to others, and just being of service.

B. Hedrick: And Southern food is pretty good, too.

E. Gutloff: It is.

B. Hedrick: All right, well... So, we're doing these interviews as part of the 125th Anniversary of the University, which is an excellent opportunity for reflection, but it also helps us to think about where we are heading in the 00:38:00future. So, what do you think the future is for UNCG, and where do you see UNCG going as an institution in the next 25 to 50 years?

E. Gutloff: I feel that we are already a leader in higher education, however, my vision would be for the world to see us as a leader in education. And not just within the state of North Carolina. I mean, I was an out of state student, of course, and I'm always asked, "How did you hear about UNCG? How did you even know it existed?" And that's where I say the university, we need to continue to recognize our accolades, and share our experiences, talk about the university, but beyond the state level.

E. Gutloff: Again, I think we are great at so many things. The School of Business, the School of Nursing, the College of Visual Arts and Performing Arts, and we have so much to offer. I see us in the future really being a leader in higher education, so that we can compete with the Ivy League schools, and the Ivy League universities. I just... My vision would be that when you think of beyond liberal arts, you think of UNCG as your top three choices for university to attend. I mean, UNCG is also very active in the community. I would like to see or hear more about UNCG even in my local community, in Durham, because 00:40:00again, I think that the opportunity to compete with North Carolina State University, with Duke University, I mean I certainly believe that we have the means and the opportunity to be prevalent and in top of mind for students, for parents that are seeking higher education.

B. Hedrick: I don't think I have any more formal questions for you, but did you have anything that you would like to add about your time here at UNCG, or any other experiences you would like to mention?

E. Gutloff: Just... I guess this also goes part of... Along with sort of my vision, as well, for the future, is just more mentoring opportunities from alumni. I would certainly like to see alumni more involved on campus, and/or in their local communities, with students. Again, I came here as a dance major, and 00:41:00I came here with an expectation of what that would look like, and it really opened the door to numerous possibilities for me, and I feel that that is probably also the case in other departments, as well.

E. Gutloff: I had not known previously that there could be such a thing as a dance or movement therapist, or a dance anthropologist, so I think for anyone considering UNCG, it will certainly exceed your expectations. It will open your mind to numerous possibilities for a career path. Whatever your interests are, the faculty will nurture those interests. They will help you be successful. Post graduation, there are networks of alumni, there's still networks of alumni and 00:42:00faculty that are on campus that are still passionate about helping alumni be successful, and coming back, and giving back to the university.

E. Gutloff: So, I just... I can not express more, just that overall feeling of UNCG will always exceed your expectations, and give you more than what you possibly could have ever dreamt of.

B. Hedrick: I agree.

E. Gutloff: Yes.

B. Hedrick: Okay. Well, thank you so much.

E. Gutloff: You're welcome.