A short phone call with Eric Beck can be like a conversational joyride with comedian Robin Williams at the wheel, as the energetic voice on the other end gleefully careens through a variety of accents and personas within minutes. Beck, visiting project coordinator, Center for East Asian and Pacific studies, has a zest for life that is exemplified by an exhaustive list of interests, ranging from modeling to martial arts to massage therapy. Although Beck only joined the university as an employee just over a year ago, he has been on campus more than 13 years, having earned a bachelor of science in psychology and speech communication and a master of arts degree in African studies at Illinois.
Tell me what your job entails.
In a phrase, "duties as assigned." The grant that I work under was awarded by the Freeman Foundation for four years to expand the base of interest in East and Southeast Asian studies among the undergraduate population at the Urbana campus. For the time being, I’ve also picked up some duties as outreach coordinator, duties that are split between me and a colleague.
With a degree in African studies, how did you end up in Asian studies?
Fortune, pure fortune. I ended up here because of my administrative skills.
But there is some overlap between African studies and Asian studies. I studied abroad in Kenya as an undergraduate, and a major contributor of foreign aid to Kenya is Japan. I was in Kenya for eight weeks and it unequivocally changed the direction of my life. I came back and finished my bachelor’s degrees and went into African studies.
I call my office the ‘crossroads,’ with my African batik, Chinese scrolls and carvings and serenity garden over in the corner. I want to learn as much about everybody as I can.
What is the most challenging part of what you do?
Making sure that communications about new grants, new deadlines, new scholarships get out into the university community. It’s the most challenging, but I look at it as being the most fun.
Because this is such a small office, I have the chance to learn so much. It exposes me to a lot of different people and a lot of different areas here on campus. It’s eye-opening in seeing how offices run, how policy can be affected and how advertising does or doesn’t work in terms of promoting. It’s a huge learning curve. And for me, coming from another area, it can be a weight around your neck or it can be a lot of fun. I chose to make it fun.
What kinds of hobbies or interests do you have off the job?
My favorite outside activity is exploring and exposing myself to a lot of different things. I do cigar tastings and wine tastings. I’ve played men’s rugby. I’ve been on the Illini lion-dance, where I was the only non-Chinese member of the team. I’m an instructor of Qigong. I’m a dad of a 9-year-old – that has to be a hobby!
I’ve been studying martial arts since I was about 15. I was able to hold some sessions for teachers that came to the summer 2002 seminar that we held on teaching Japan. I’ve been looking forward to some type of training with Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art) this semester. I’ve studied Aikido.
I’m very active in the Association of Academic Professionals, and I’m running for national office. I’m also an adviser for a couple of fraternities.
I’m also a tour guide for the online tour of the Quad. I do modeling and was on an episode of the ‘What About Joan?’ show on ABC. I’ve been in a music video and modeled for a local car dealer’s advertising.
I’ve also done a couple of plays at Parkland College. … my daughter was in (one of them) with me, which was a lot of fun. I’m somewhat dramatic and somewhat theatrical. It comes from being an only child and having to find different ways of entertaining myself.