Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions, has overseen the fate of students' applications since coming to Duke in 1992. Guttentag shared with The Chronicle some of his favorite things to do outside the office.
What's the last book you read?
“Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
Do you speak any languages besides English?
German. I’d say I’m reasonably fluent.
When you have a day off, what do you do?
Tend to my bees (I’m a first-year beekeeper) and run all the errands that have been piling up; if I’m on the road, I seek out flea markets and interesting neighborhoods and restaurants.
What's your favorite state in the country to visit?
It’s hard to choose—there are so many interesting places to visit. If forced, I’d say a tie between California, where I grew up, and Alaska.
What's the most interesting thing in your office right now?
Three-way tie between a mid-century Bakelite electric clock, a piece of fused-glass art that my daughter made for me and a bust of [Austrian composer Franz] Schubert that my daughter found for me in a Copenhagen flea market.
If you were a student at Duke right now, what would you major in and why?
My 18-year old self would stick with my original major of philosophy, but my current self would add statistics and see what I could do in behavioral economics.
Where is the best place to eat on campus?
I have barely scratched the surface of the West Union, so it’s hard to say. Until now, it’s been a tie between the Divinity Café, The Loop and Joe Van Gogh for coffee.
How many flights do you take each year?
Around 50 or so.
Which social media platforms do you have? Do you use Snapchat?
No Snapchat. Facebook (to stay in touch with my friends) and Twitter, using the Hootsuite platform.
What's your favorite TV show at the moment?
I’m a sucker for "Shark Tank." My daughter is trying to get me interested in "Stranger Things."
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