Tatiana (Olivera) Muñiz knew she wanted to be a writer before she could write. Make-believe worlds fascinated her. It’s why she decided to study English literature, one of the few majors that reward people for jumping into imaginary spaces, Blue-skidoo style.

She also picked up a minor in journalism to force herself to actually talk to people. Having deep conversations with students, faculty and staff — who all had different backgrounds and life experiences — helped her realize that nonfiction is even more fascinating than fantasy.

Being born and raised in Stanislaus County, home to one of the largest Assyrian populations in the nation, it wasn't easy to leave her family and cultural community. So, she pursued further education there, obtaining a master's degree in public administration in 2020.

As the pandemic hit, Tatiana's mentors encouraged her to seek out new stories in new places. She is now excited to elevate UC Davis' unique and vibrant stories through search engine optimization and is proud to call herself an Aggie.

Favorite book

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Favorite quote

"Facts without stories are fast forgotten." - Dr. Sue Johnson

Random fact

Learned how to ride a unicycle in 3rd grade