Our people: Greyhound communicator

My name is Desiree Cooper. I'm the coordinator of media relations and social media at Eastern New Mexico University, where I write stories about students, faculty, staff and alumni and share them with the Greyhound community on ENMU's website and social media platforms. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in history in 2015 and a Master of Arts in communication in 2017. My fiancé Adam Fajardo is the webmaster at ENMU. My father Britt Cooper is serving as the athletic director for the Roswell Independent School District after retiring as head coach of the Roswell High School varsity boys basketball team, where he was named the 2015 National Federation of State High School Associations National Coach of the Year for boys basketball. My mother Anjy is the manager of the Roswell Mall and a real estate broker. My brother Sterling is pursuing a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University. My grandmother Billie Cooper lives in Portales. My grandparents Gail and Phil Kopp live in Roswell.

Tell us about your favorite hobby.

I love going to concerts. I've seen so many amazing performances from the first or second row, including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar (three times), Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down, JAY-Z, Paramore, Gorillaz, The Killers, Blink-182, and Demi Lovato. Other shows I've attended include the Foo Fighters, Green Day, Lana Del Rey, Mumford & Sons, Ice Cube, Travis Scott, Foster the People, Kacey Musgraves, Camila Cabello, and Die Antwoord. I have tickets to see Ariana Grande this July.

What do you collect?

I'm pretty passionate about collecting Pokémon merchandise. I've been a fan of the series since kindergarten, so "catching 'em all" has basically been a lifelong interest. I have a ton of Pokémon plush toys, figurines, décor, clothing, video games, etc. I'm excited to visit several Pokémon Centers (large specialty stores filled exclusively with Pokémon items) during my trip to Japan with my fiancé this summer to expand my collection.

What's an accomplishment you're proud of?

I'm proud of my college career. I received the Green and Silver Presidential Scholarship, maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout my undergraduate and graduate degrees and served as president of both the Theta Zeta chapter of Chi Omega women's fraternity and the ENMU chapter of the American Association of University Women. I was also a President's Ambassador and a senator for the student government.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an author; I was an avid reader as a child and remain one today. I feel I accomplished that goal to a certain extent, because my job as a coordinator of media relations and social media is to write and share stories.

Tell us about your pets:

I am a proud "dog mom" to Jax, an American bulldog, and Lola, a schnauzer-Labrador mix. Lola was adopted through Cindy's Hope for Precious Paws, a wonderful animal rescue organization.

What is your theme song?

"Oh No!" by Marina and the Diamonds. It focuses on ambition and becoming the person you want to be, while also being cautionary about setting yourself up for failure with unattainable aspirations. It motivates me to become the best I can be without losing myself in the process.

What are you reading?

My reading list is filled with books set in Japan or focused on its history. Some fiction reads I've enjoyed are "Convenience Store Woman," by Sayaka Murata, "Pachinko," by Min Jin Lee, and "Strange Weather in Tokyo" and "The Nakano Thrift Shop," both by Hiromi Kawakami. For the nonfiction side, I'm currently reading "A Concise History of Japan," by Brett Walker.

What are you watching?

I've been upping my anime intake in preparation for my Japan trip. Some of my recent favorites have been "Steins;Gate," "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "Cowboy Bebop," "Gurren Lagann," "Re:Zero," "One-Punch Man," and "Soul Eater."

- Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman