Pearl Newbrogh was born in Moberly, Mo., works in Technical Services in the J. Otto Lottes Health SciencesLibrary, and has worked for MU Libraries for 18 years.  Pearl graduated from Moberly High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Truman State University.

Pearl owns (or is owned by) three dogs and a cat.  “Two of the dogs are black Labrador Retrievers.  They are both 6 years old and their names are Shadow and Hershey.  The other dog is a Pekehund (Pekingese/Dachshund mix).  His name is Hamlet and he is three years old.  My cat’s name is Georgie.  He is my oldest at 18 years old.  I adopted all my “furry kids” from people wanting to give them away.  I’ve had Shadow since she was 3 months old.  Hamlet, who was adopted from the Humane Society, was a Christmas gift from my husband.  Hershey really adopted us.  Some neighborhood kids brought her to our door thinking she was our other black lab, Shadow.  She introduced herself by sitting down at my feet and extending her paw to shake hands with me.  We were fast friends from that point forward.  My husband and I tracked down her owners who gladly gave her to us as she was a deviant who kept escaping from her pen! “

In her leisure time Pearl loves to read, craft cards, cook and bake.  “I love to sing.  I’m a member of the choir at my church.”  Pearl also spends a lot of her free time helping with various committees and projects at her church.  One of Pearl’s hobbies is baseball spectatorship.  “I am a St. Louis Cardinals fan.  My husband is a Chicago Cubs fan.  (I know, sad isn’t it …?)  This makes the Cardinals vs. Cubs games very interesting at my house.” 

Pearl admits that she has not had much opportunity to travel yet, but she loves to visit Chicago because “it is an amazing city and there is so much to see and do!”

Asked who should portray her in a movie, Pearl told us:  “I think my life is interesting, but hardly movie worthy.  I’m really not sure who I would want to portray me.”

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Sheena U. Waggoner, Ellis Library Administrative Offices, was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo. and has worked for MU Libraries since June of 2008.  Sheena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Human Resources.  She is currently studying for her Ph.D. in Education Psychology.

Sheena has no pets, and in her leisure time she babysits her grandson.  She explains “my grandson is my pride and joy, and I love taking care of him.”  Sheena’s hobbies include planting flowers in spring, people watching and going to the movies if she can afford to take a study break.

Sheena believes the coolest place she has ever been is Germany, “and while there I was able to tour old little German towns, and visit the local pubs where they introduced me to German ale, and the word ‘brosch’”

Sheena would like to see Angela Bassett play her in a movie, and leaves us with this closing thought: “I really love working at the Library it has given me the opportunity to meet some wonderful people.”

Kristopher Lee Anstine, born in Sedalia, Mo., has worked for University Archives for 5 years.  He graduated High School in Smithton, Mo., then spent two years at Westminster College in Fulton and took basic and intermediate Russian courses at Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif, Kris  achieved and AA degree for State Fair Community College in Sedalia and a BA in Interntional Studies (European) from the University of Missouri—Columbia.  While he was a student at UMC Kris worked in the Physical Processing Unit.

Kris loves animals, but his current lease does not allow him to have pets.

In his leisure time, Kris enjoys reading science fiction/fantasy, historical fiction, classics, but does not limit himself to those genres.  One of his favorite authors is Bernard Cornwell.  Kris likes to cook and bakes “a mean pie.”  Having recently read Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Kris is interested in researching sustainable and local agriculture. And, he reiterates, he likes to read.

Hobbies include cooking and reading foreign language materials, cultural subject matter, world religions and geography.  “I speak a little bit of a lot of different languages, and am more or less fluent in several.  My brother and I are researching building our own straw-bale house.”  Kris also likes to listen to jazz, standards, classic rock and old-school country.

Where is the coolest place Kris has been?  “Plzeň, Czech Republic, birthplace of Pilsner beer.”

Asked who should portray him in a movie of his life, Kris replied: “I once had someone tell me I looked like John Lithgow in the movie “Buckaroo Bonzai”; I still don’t know if that was intended as a compliment.”

Anything else? “I’m a closet James Taylor fan… and I was in glee club in high school…”

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Gena Scott, of the Libraries Development Office, was born in Mexico, Mo.  She has worked for MU for over 12 years and at MU Libraries for over 8 years.  Gena holds a Bachelor of Educational Studies and Master’s degree in Educational and Counseling Psychology from MU; and is currently working on “what I hope will be a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.”

The animals in Gena’s life include a dog named Carson and two cats—Ernie and Versace.

In her leisure time, Gena enjoys reading and watching movies, traveling with her family, swimming and knitting.  Hobbies include quirky movies and U.S. history. “I have 5 adult children (3 are stepdaughters) and 4 step grandchildren and I enjoy being involved in their lives.”

The coolest place Gena has ever been is Germany.  “The castles are wonderful.

Who should Gena like to portray her in a movie? “Kermit the Frog.”

Gena left us with one final comment:  “I love working for the MU Libraries. I get to meet a lot of interesting and intelligent individuals.”