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Eagle Tales: IRL Content Creator

AU boasts about 1,900 dedicated staff members. Meet one here: Shamira James, marketing and communications coordinator for Housing and Residence Life.

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Shamira James. Graphic by Jaylene Arnold.

I’ve worked at AU for two years. Before that, I ran social media for an upholstery and window treatment company in Baltimore.

My job is to send out all communications to students and families throughout the year, including running the Housing and Residence Life social media. A typical day includes checking our accounts, attending meetings, and visiting different community directors. My office is on the first floor of Anderson Hall.

My favorite place on campus to steal a quiet moment is the outdoor seating on the third floor of the McKinley Building. Campus is at its prettiest in the fall when all the students are moving in.

My go-to lunch spot is Panera. My go-to order at the Bridge is an iced chai latte with lavender. The most famous face I’ve seen on campus is actor and singer Ethan Slater, who stopped by the Dav in April.  

I found my community at AU by asking my colleagues questions to connect with them. In our meetings, I started asking a fun question of the day. My 10 housing team members are the people who helped show me the ropes.

I show my AU spirit by wearing AU merch. My work-from-home rituals include waking up early enough to have a slow morning, where I light a candle, open a window, and have a whipped coffee. I also love cleaning before work to get in a productive mindset. I do my Zoom meetings from Coffee Olivia, a reliable coffee shop right around the corner from where I live in Baltimore. My favorite day of the workweek is Friday when I’m usually home. Who doesn’t love a good Friday?

When I’m not at work, you can find me at home editing my content. My hobbies include creating “regular girl” content for TikTok and YouTube. I’ve had a lot of success vlogging my workday or my commute. I also have a podcast called Realer than Real about pop culture, music, and the human experience.

The last great audio book I listened to was I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. The last great show I watched was American Dad, a favorite that I’ve probably rewatched 16 times this year. The last great meal I ate was a lemon honey butter salmon I made with rice and string beans. 

If I wasn’t working at AU, I’d be a guidance counselor or a full-time content creator. I would love to do what Amelia Dimoldenberg from Chicken Shop Date does. But my job at AU is best because the work we do is important and present in students’ lives. Our social media is top tier.