Phatty Arbuckle
Want to meet other MIT alum in the area? Phatty is your gal! As co-chair for the Social Track, Phatty will be on the hunt for fun activities that fit everyone’s tastes. From happy hours and wine tours to maker festivals and tarantula walks, read on to see what else Phatty has in store for MITCNC.
Why did you decide to volunteer with the MITCNC?
Wow! So many reasons! How could I not? I helped with Spotlight a few years back and loved it! So many fantastic people with abundant energy and MIT spirit. This year I’ve really been looking for volunteer opportunities to both challenge myself and enable others. I was thrilled when Shuja approached me to see if I was interested.
Tell us a bit about your role with the MITCNC. What are your responsibilities in this position?
Great question! I was initially approached to take on the newly created Delta V co-leadership which basically means I’d have the opportunity to work with all the teams to help them accomplish their goals. I hope I’ll get to see what everyone is working on, work closely with a lot of different people, and take on various types of tasks/challenges. In addition to Delta V, there was an open spot on the Social Track, so I jumped on that opportunity as well. Needless to say, I’m excited to plan engaging, diverse, cultural and fun events for the club to spur even more connections & community interaction.
What exciting things can we expect to see from your area of focus in the coming months? (e.g., social events, speakers, etc.)
I’m sincerely enthusiastic about the events we’re going to plan this year! I was handed a phenomenal list of ideas from a previous leader to include auto shows, wine tours, Cirque du Soleil, Space Center tours, musicals, pro-sport games, dinners, happy hours & mixers to name a few. Our break out session at the annual meeting added even more great ideas like opera, symphony, maker festivals, cooking clubs, tarantula walks, and the list goes on & on. I’ll get to throw a little of my own flavor of events on top! We’re going to be busy appreciating the culture and events the Bay Area has to offer with the great camaraderie of our MIT community.
Describe one of your most memorable MIT moments.
Well…there’s the filming of me dancing Gangnam Style down the hallway for a class video during IAP, but its humor doesn’t compare to the uplifting inspiration of Graduation! A culmination of all those awe inspiring, intense, scrupulous moments. Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny day to parade into Killian Court. But more than the sunshine, I could feel the heart-warming & exciting energy of all my classmates surrounding me. I couldn’t contain my inner joy as I listened to Megan Smith profess her learnings & acumen as the CTO of the USA. As a female Software Engineer with a newly minted SM in Engineering & Management, it’s hard to find something more inspirational than the words of wisdom from a woman leading our country’s technological endeavors!