Marissa Shaffer

Background

About Marissa Shaffer

I can see just from looking at you that you’re creative, you have this great math and engineering background, I know I’m not technically supposed to ask this, but…. How did you end up here at this interview?” This is the kind of sentiment that is often expressed when I meet a new person who is unfamiliar with my background, in this case at my interview for the position of Marketing Assistant for Temple Venture’s Mathnasiums. In the past it was every time I met with a new advisor at VCU and had to explain why I walked out of high school with college credits in everything from history to mathematics (what was I going to DO with all of those history credits?) or when I kept trying to cram all of my “recent experience” into my resume and was told that there was no way to get all of that onto one page. I understand why my varied background often gives people pause but it’s also one of the things I like most about myself! The reason I have such a varied background (and so many interests) is that I’m forever curious and I’m willing to take on any task. I want to know why things work and how they work; and while discovering those things I often learn to appreciate them and make them my own. One thing you should know about me is that I’m terrible at picking favorites. I can’t pick a favorite book because I can’t even pick a favorite genre or writing style - I want to read them all. That same mentality applies to my musical taste and even to my work. Rather than fall into the same repetitive job every day I look for new things I can learn, teach, and improve upon. If a job seems interesting to me then I’m willing to take it on - even if it’s outside of my past realm of experience. That is how I ended up at that particular job interview, and many other places in life! I’m sure you’re wondering - I got the job! From there I’ve gone on to become the Marketing Director for our 22 centers and I like to think I do a pretty good job of it. Our team gives me a great platform to utilize all of my skills - the creative and the analytical - and to develop new ones as well. I love working in a team with so many diverse people with a wide array of skill sets! On LinkedIn I hope to meet even more people who are lifelong learners and glean any informational tidbits that they’re willing to share, whether it be a fun new word (my current favorite word is “nibling”) or reinforcing just how COOL it is that math can be made into art and vice versa. I look forward to seeing what else life brings my way!