Well, “Cordova” is from the Hispanic half of my family. It originally comes from the city in Spain, which I think is pretty snazzy. “Lauren” has no real significance, which really bothers me. Why such a vapid name, Mom and Dad? I actually should have been named “Callie” and am still bitter that that didn’t happen. But then I guess my name would be Callie Cordova, which sounds kind of cheesy.

You co-directed the 2009 production of the Vagina Monologues here at Amherst. What was the experience like? What was your favorite part about directing? What did you enjoy most about this year’s production?

There were 44 lovely, amazing women in this year’s show. FORTY-FOUR. Think about that. It was insane. I can’t believe I volunteered for that. (FORTY-FOUR!) But actually it was great. I’m so thankful that Maryam Khan was there so I didn’t have to think any great creative thoughts. I was free to obsessively fiddle with the color-coded charts that kept my sanity. (So many charts…) It was one of my proudest accomplishments and I still brim with pride when I see my cast members walking around campus because I know how beautiful each one of them is. (Sappy, sappy, I know.)

You are from Texas. What do you miss most from home?

I am not so much from Texas as I am from the border. Honestly, like walking-distance from Mexico. Because of this, I am extremely snooty about Mexican food. If I can’t see Mexico out of the restaurant window, I ain’t eating it. When I came to New England, I vowed never to eat “Mexican” food here. I’ve made good on that promise except once my freshman year when I ate at Bueno y Sano. That blotch on my otherwise clean record of snobbery shames me to this day.

What is your favorite card game?

Gin rummy… I think. Only I can’t remember how to play it.

What is your favorite TV show?

My favorite serious TV show is the West Wing. My favorite non-serious TV show is “Friends” dubbed into Spanish. When I was in Spain, my host father and I watched it all the time. It’s about three times funnier when ridiculously dubbed. Seriously, check it out on youtube.

Which movie character is most like you?

I’d describe myself as a combination of Dory from “Finding Nemo,” and Natalie Portman’s character from “Garden State.”

You did a two-semester long research project on geek humor. What was the specific topic and how did you come up with the idea to study it? How did you study your topic?

The title of my paper is “i can has in-jokes? — Explaining in-group humor in small geek groups.” It’s a silly topic that contains a solid five pages of lolcats and webcomics. I wanted to study something I could actually observe and wouldn’t be boring. I looked around and saw that my friends are pretty weird, so I basically ended up doing an ethnography of them. I’m presenting it at the Five College Undergraduate Anthropology Conference in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait share the gems of internet stupidity with my esteemed colleagues. *cough Rickrolling cough*

What is your favorite instrument and song to play on Rock Band?

If I’m honest with myself, I like singing best of all, though bass used to be my favorite. (I don’t have the physical stamina for drums. It’s pathetic having to pause half-way through “Come Out and Play”.) My favorite part is the bass part (expert) on “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” I played it on the GameStop demo once and like to think I totally awed the 11 year old kid that was watching me, though I’m pretty sure he actually didn’t notice. (99%! C’mon!)

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Sometimes, when I’m particularly desperate, I play with Play-Doh under the table during class to keep myself awake.