The Brief Questionnaire is inspired by the Proust Questionnaire, invented by noted French author Marcel Proust. Enjoy the latest edition with Y. Andrew Hao, an assistant professor at Morris.

What drew you to your profession?

I like to joke that at first, it was really the thought of being addressed as Dr. Hao when I fly (among other things). Then when I started teaching, it was the aspiration to shape young minds by what I say and do, which is enriched by my research in Olympic history. And it turns out that professors on the campus (Morris) where I teach mostly just go by their first name, hah!

When and where were you happiest?

On a tennis court, in a movie theatre, and in the air.

How would you describe your campus in just one word?

One-of-a-kind.

Where would you most like to live?

Edinburgh, Scotland, but Morris, Minnesota is certainly comparable in terms of the wind gusts and not-so-mild winter. If only Big Foot was as cute as Nessie.

What is your most treasured possession?

Abundant information from my curiosity about the world as well as my good memory. Yes, it includes both knowledge and gossip [wink wink].

Who is your hero of fiction?

I wouldn’t call him a hero per se, but I deeply identify with Andrei Bolkonsky from Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace and his awakenings through his life.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Andy Roddick was my teenage-hood idol and still shines as a role model for me today. Straight-forward, no-nonsense, charitable, kind, and down to the earth.

Marron or gold?

Gotta pick gold. Sorry, Maroon pals and Adam Levine.