Michael Moore has a bit of sage advice for students in their college search:
“It’s OK to be selfish. At the end of the day, this is all about you and how you will navigate the next four years and beyond.”
His advice for parents is a bit more succinct: “Back off.”
Michael Moore at “The Bean” in Chicago’s Millennium Park
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Moore has been guiding students and families through the admissions process for nearly 25 years, the last three at Union as associate dean of admissions and coordinator of multicultural recruitment. Before Union, he worked at Morehouse College in Atlanta for three years and at “that school across the river” in Troy for 17.
He meets with students in New York City, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Texas.
He earned his degree in business from Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University) in Seguin, Texas, about an hour south of his hometown, Austin.
A standout basketball player in high school, he was a point guard for the TLC Bulldogs and a member of the first recruiting class in the conference to make it to post-season play all four years. He follows the NBA and is a fan of C.J. McCollum, a Portland Trail Blazer and podcaster whose topics range from basketball to wine selection.
He lives in Waterford with his wife, Krystal. They have two adult daughters, Brittney, a schoolteacher in Albany, and Kerris, a medical technician who is applying to physician assistant programs.
FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:
Gmail, then I check Imessages. Besides my wife and daughters, the rest of my family is in Texas so I like to check in on them.
ONE BOOK YOU HAVE READ MULTIPLE TIMES:
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” I thumbed through it in high school but in my first year of college I read it with some new perspective as I was experiencing things on my own. It opened my eyes to a completely new world.
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:
It’s more of a quote that was passed along to me: “The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.” – Pastor Charles Swindoll. My college basketball coach quoted this in the locker room and posted it in his office. I remember thinking, “That kind of sums up how I feel.”
FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS:
Grant Hall gives me the opportunity to meet hundreds of people who have chosen to visit and learn more about Union College. I take pride in greeting them and welcoming them to campus. Watching basketball games in Viniar is a close second.
GO-TO BREAKFAST:
Steel cut oats with cinnamon and blueberries.
NETFLIX OR AMAZON:
Netflix. “The Harder They Fall” is an amazing movie. I’ve watched the documentary “13th” a few times now and some of my favorite series include “Queen Sono,” “Lupin” and “Marcella.” Most recently though, I’ve been more in tune to Hulu: “A Million Little Things,” “Wu-Tang” and “Killing Eve” are the top picks.
FAVORITE PODCAST:
“Pull Up with C.J. McCollum,” a show with a lot of intellectual engagement. He studied journalism and has a lot going on. Also, “Crimetown,” a series that covers crime and corruption in Providence, R.I. and Detroit, Mich.
ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:
I would like to fluently speak Spanish. I was close to fluent at one point and could get around and not get into too much trouble. In college, for whatever reason, I stopped. The crazy part is that growing up with so many Spanish-speaking people around me, I could have used it in half my conversations. With three or four people in my office, I get a little bit a practice from time to time.
BEST PART OF YOUR DAY:
The evening decompress, perhaps while enjoying a meal and libation.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU:
I enjoy cooking, traditional BBQ and grilling. Growing up in a Black southern household and having an interest in soul food, I try to do it better than my mother and grandmother. My kids also enjoy Italian cuisine. After my competitive basketball days were over, I channeled a lot of my energy and creativity into the kitchen. I also enjoy going out to eat, but I stay away from chains as much as possible. I love re-creating dishes I’ve enjoyed at restaurants later at home.