This is part of an ongoing series titled How I Work, a look into how Charlotte gets things done at work.

Eric Freedman is the Dean of the James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University.

Office location:

Queens University of Charlotte – 1900 Selwyn Avenue (Myers Park)

Job:

Dean, James L. Knight School of Communication

Commute:

Less than 5 minutes by car. And yes, I should be biking.

Phone Type:

iPhone 5S

Phone homescreen photo:

A still from one of my videos – this is not a road movie – shot in 1999 while driving cross-country. My need for order is obvious – I keep the default apps on my homescreen, even if I don’t use them.

Desk photos:

The framed art in my office includes a Guerrilla Girls poster, an original Carrie movie poster, and a poster from a 2010 video games exhibit at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. And of course there’s a photo of my husband, Ryan.

Computer:

Macbook Pro with an Apple Thunderbolt Display. I’ve been a Mac user since the 1984 Macintosh 512k.

Gadgets you can’t live without:

The Nest thermostat. A comfortable family is a happy family. I start the day with the Nutra Ninja and end the day with the Xbox One (currently working my way through Resident Evil Revelations 2).

Do you listen to music while you work?

No. I only listen to music in the car; my XM preset is Alt Nation – which doesn’t sound very alternative these days.

What software are you a power user of?

Adobe Creative Cloud and Final Cut Studio are central to my work (beyond Microsoft Office). I’m also frequently tweaking websites in Ingeniux. And AVPlayerHD is my go to entertainment app on the iPad – for videos on the go.

What’s your favorite spot for a business lunch? Your order?

Any place off campus. It’s important for me to explore the city with colleagues. My favorite lunch is the Asian Tuna Burger (with a side potato cake) at 300 East. But I’m also a fan of the Tempeh Hoagie at Mellow Mushroom.

Social media habits:

While Facebook is my primary connection point with friends, I check in with Yik Yak on campus to get a sense of the conversation. I use Twitter to follow what’s happening in the digital literacy and news literacy space. And like many folks in the entrepreneurial sector, I’m connected to several Meetup groups.

To-do list manager:

iCal – never Outlook.

What everyday thing are you really good at?

Spatial design and organization. We are about to start renovating the old science building on the Queens campus to create a new home for the Knight School; I can see outside the box, even though the box is already built.

Best time-saving shortcut or Charlotte life hack:

I keep a 24 pack of bottled water in my car – not the most environmentally conscious decision, but I am always prepared for the gym, or for a weekend trip to the dog park.

Sleep routine:

In bed by midnight.

Where do you go around Charlotte to get away from the office?

Metro Fitness for circuit classes with Billy and social time with my gym gals.

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

Smoothie – whey protein, flax seed, banana, and peanut butter.

What’s the last book you read and why?

The War on Learning: Gaining Ground in the Digital University (Elizabeth Losh, MIT Press, 2014). Keeping up with the transformation of higher education is part of the job.

If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing?

I’m certain it would be in a parallel civically focused career. I worked in community media throughout graduate school.