Jared Burns

Why did you choose Dalton State? I chose Dalton State because of the affordability and the excess of student opportunities on campus. The STEM programs at DSC allow students to dive in head-first and hands on to get valuable experience which I value more than anything else.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Roadrunner Nation? Being a roadrunner means dreaming big and working hard. Roadrunners actively seek out solutions to problems and work to bring the community together. We help our neighbors and make everyone welcome.

What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduation, I plan to attend a graduate school program to research reptiles and amphibians.

Who is/was your favorite professor and why? There are many great professors on DSC’s campus, but my favorite has been Dr. Kim Hays. She is kind and understanding while pushing and expecting the best from her students. She always makes time for her students and has helped me grow more than I had expected of myself.

What activities are you involved in on campus? Most of my extra time is put towards the Turtle Assurance Colony that provides home and care to more than 15 endangered species of turtles and tortoises on campus. We work to take care of these animals daily and hatching eggs in hopes to keep these species from disappearing completely.

What are some of your favorite activities in and around Dalton? I love billiards and enjoy the local pool hall at Dalton Billiards Club. I frequent the campus trails often and recently explored some trails on Fort Mountain that I loved! Getting a bite to eat with friends or going to the several pet stores on Walnut Avenue are some other ways I like to kill time.

Where is your favorite study spot? Some of my favorite study spots are on the trails on campus. It is usually very quiet besides the wildlife, and I study better on a mossy forest floor than a couch or table in the halls. If I happen to be working on some electronic project, then I’m normally in a lobby in Peeple’s Hall.

Favorite comfort food? My favorite comfort food is fried catfish!

If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Zero to Hero” from the Disney movie Hercules

Favorite line from a movie? “A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.” -V from V for Vendetta

What cheers you up? I’ve found I love unplugging for a few days and spending a few nights beside a running river. That is my favorite pick me up when life simply gets too hectic.

What is your favorite book? My favorite book is Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton.

What is your favorite childhood memory? The favorite of my childhood memories was going to the Tennessee Aquarium with my grandmother on the weekends. She always let my curiosity lead the way and I think that’s important to who I am and how I learn today.

If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? I would love to meet Charles Darwin and get his opinion on how the society he lived in viewed his works and what it meant to him at the time when his work was published.

What is your favorite app? My favorite app is iNaturalist because it helps me identify local wildlife and learn more about the land I live in.

Where is your favorite place to eat? My favorite place to eat is Soho Hibachi in Fort Oglethorpe.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Growing up, I wanted to be a marine biologist that specialized in orcas because I used to watch the Free Willy movies like crazy!

As a Roadrunner, what does it mean to Run Boldly? Running boldly is more than a motto here at DSC; it’s integral to our way of life. Roadrunners don’t stop when the trail turns steep; we blaze the trail into the wilderness. We run boldly into the unknown and make note of everything we find along the way and we press on in the face of adversity.