UTEP Professors are the “happiest people”
New York best-selling author Peter Shteyngart recently went on a bus tour of the United States, on a quest to find the happiest people. He spent four months on a Greyhound, going from city to city and talking to people. He also spent years with wealthy hedge fund managers. Did he find happiness? Yes, he did. And he says UTEP professors are the happiest he’s found.
“It feld like these people were leading real lives,” says Shteyngart. “Not the artificiality you find in other places, but there’s something to be said about a place like UTEP. I’m sure some people find it impersonal but it was very human, generous and intellectual.” Shteyngart, a self-proclaimed “foodie,” also loved the spicy local cuisine. He spent time rubbing elbows with several UTEP professors during his stay, and says they enjoyed touring restaurants and sights on both sides of the border.
It was the “realness” of El Paso that captured his attention.
“What was shocking to me was how huge the university is, but the interactions between students and faculty are very unpretentious. In New York, you earn a certain amount of money and it’s hard to live off. Here in El Paso, it’s a good salary for El Paso, and they have the kind of life that they seem to be happy and connected to the community. To be a part of the community.”
We spoke with Joe Maldonado, a UTEP Communications professor. He originally wanted a career in radio, but found his ultimate happiness in the classroom. He’s in his second year of teaching.
“I do feel UTEP is part of something great. Seeing how intellectual my students are – sometimes I feel like we’re born in a city maybe we aren’t the best at sports but they don’t realize how great of an education you can get at UTEP. A lot of my students are Hispanic and I feel like we’re probably the only university 85% Hispanic and then to generate as many degrees, coming from right here in the borderland,” says Maldonado.
Shteyngart says people are interested in the way his book, “Lake Success,” tackles two very extreme societies. He goes from riding the Greyhound to hanging out with hedge fund managers. He laughs as he recounts his time with some of these wealthy businessmen:
“I was so disappointed with the hedge fund managers I encountered I sort of missed the realness of the greyhound!”
He adds that El Paso isn’t the only happy place he encountered in his travels. He found many places of culture and authenticity, but he just found UTEP extra special.
“With all the differences in the borderland,” he says, “it’s a wonderland.”
