Please join us in welcoming and learning a bit more about Jason Chou, who joined Graduate Division as the new Coordinator of GradQuant and the Graduate Student Resource Center on March 16th. Jason came to us from the Academic Resource Center, where he's worked since 2004. 

Jason, tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to work at UCR.

Originally from Taiwan, I grew up in the city of Fullerton in Orange County, where I lived until I went to college in Santa Barbara. Although I majored in physiology and cell biology, my career goal was to be a teacher, so after I graduated from UCSB I went to Taiwan to teach English. I enjoyed teaching ESL and returned to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). While I was teaching ESL at a nearby community college, an opportunity opened up in 2004 to teach ESL to international graduate students at UCR. I was hired for the job and have been here ever since.

I understand that you play guitar and have a degree in music production. When did you first get interested in music, and what's your favorite type of music to play?

When I was in junior high school, I was digging around our attic and stumbled across a vinyl LP by Simon and Garfunkel (their greatest hits album) and a cassette tape by none other than The Beatles. I decided to listen to them and was absolutely smitten. There was also a dusty, old guitar in the attic, so I took it to my room and tried playing with it. My fingers hurt so badly after playing for a few minutes that I just about threw the guitar back where I found it. I didn’t get a new guitar until senior year of high school, and then played mostly folk and alternative rock. Being much older now, I mostly play rhythm and lead to my own compositions, which I would classify as, I don’t know, maybe urban folk pop/rock?

[Image Description: Simon and Garfunkel performing "The Sounds of Silence"]

Pictured: When rock stars wore...vests.

What are you most looking forward to when it comes to working with graduate students at UCR? 

I am most looking forward to hearing about the different kinds of research interests that grad students have. They have an opportunity to make significant impacts in their fields, and GradSuccess can play a role in making that happen. Maybe one of the students we support will go on to become a Nobel laureate. It could happen!

It could! What do you want UCR graduate students to know about GradQuant? And about the Graduate Student Resource Center as well?

GradQuant is a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource. What makes GradQuant valuable? The consultants. They sincerely want students to learn how to best analyze their quantitative data. What makes GradQuant one-of-a-kind? The GradQuant staff is focused on your needs, which are the needs of the specific population of grad students and postdocs here at UCR. The same goes for the Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC), where you’ll find peer student staff who want their fellow graduate students to find support and encouragement through community and to enjoy healthy distractions from the busy-ness of grad school. There is no charge for using these resources, so make the most of them while you are here at UCR.

You have many interests, ranging from music to philosophy to astronomy, in addition to your work in student affairs. Why have you chosen to pursue these various hobbies and creative outlets?

I love to learn and believe whole-heartedly in lifelong learning. I am also an introvert and enjoy quiet times alone. Lifelong learning and having hobbies that match my personality means life never gets old or boring for me. Through these interests I have also connected with many intelligent and talented people, some of whom were among the coolest people I’ve ever met.

[Image Description: Musicians Institute in Hollywood]

Pictured: Jason studied here for awhile - he says it's the hippest school on the planet (other than UCR of course) and recommends a visit if you have a chance.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us (about your life, your family, your extremely cute dog)?

My wife and I have two children. Our daughter is a freshman who plays small forward for her high school girl’s jv basketball team, and our son is a fourth grader who plays right field for the Diamond Bar Rice Owls. The four of us share our home with Mochi, our black Pomeranian.

[Image Description: A small but very furry black Pomeranian looks up and puts its ears back.]

Pictured: Dog or bear cub? Only Mochi knows for sure...

Also, my favorite food is shabu-shabu (Japanese hot pot), but an In-N-Out hamburger with double meat and grilled onions is a very close second!

[Image Description: Gigi Hadad walks away from In N Out, proudly displaying the bag with her order]

Pictured: Maybe you can order Jason an extra if you happen to be there picking one up!

How can people reach you in GradSuccess, either in person or online?

On Tuesdays, you’ll find me in Life Sciences 1425 usually between 9am and 5pm. On Wednesdays, I’ll be in Room 116 on the first floor of the University Office Building, but you might also find me in the main GradSuccess office in UOB 141. And you can always reach me through e-mail at jason.chou@ucr.edu.