Meet Matt Hlinak

Matt Hlinak is the new Executive Director for Sigma Tau Delta. He has taught and/or held administrative positions at Northwestern University, the University of Illinois, Dominican University, and Ellis University. In his free time, he loves spending time in nature with his daughters. Matt also has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the medical bills to prove it.

1. I chose to become an English Major because: I didn’t study English as an undergrad, but I did get an MFA in Creative Writing to learn to be a better writer.
2. My favorite part of being an English Major is: The best part of my creative writing program was the opportunity to get feedback from my fellow writers who were working through the same challenges I was.
3. The last book I read was our 2023 Author Spotlight selection, The Toni Morrison Book Club.
4. My favorite series is Margaret Atwood‘s Oryx and Crake trilogy.
5. A book character I identify with is Arthur Dent from Douglas Adams‘ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
6. The last book I bought was The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates, and I have read it.
7. My favorite book to movie adaptation is The Princess Bride.
8. I’m more of a reader than a writer.
9. My favorite style of writing is narrative.
10. My go-to children’s book is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
11. My favorite childhood memory is going camping with my grandpa.
12. Growing up, I was sure I would be a writer.
13. My first job was bagging groceries.
14. My dream job is alchemist.
15. I like to spend my free time hiking or jogging in the woods.
16. The destination at the top of my travel bucket list is Vienna.

    

17. The literary place I’d most like to visit is Alexandria, Egypt.
18. If I could move anywhere in the world, I’d live in Dublin.
    
19. If I was stranded on a desert island, the three things I would bring with me are an easy chair, a fireplace, a bottle of good Scotch.
    
20. The one song I could listen to on repeat is “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac.
    
21. The best gift I ever received was a kayak.
    
22. The best gift I’ve ever given is: I gave my wife a porch swing we sit on every night in the summer.
    
23. If you find me in the kitchen, I’m typically whipping up a big pot of chili.
24. If I could try any food from a book or series, it would be Ambrosia from the Iliad by Homer.
25. The author (dead or alive) I’d most like to spend a day with is Mark Twain.