While Chancellor Patricia A. Sullivan is well-respected for her leadership, few people have an opportunity to get to know her personal side. As with anyone who works in the public eye, people are curious about the smallest details. Those who know the chancellor well often field questions such as — Does she have a personal shopper? Who does her nails? Does she cook? Our staff had a great time compiling these and all the other questions we ever wanted to ask. Ready for the inside scoop?

Tell me about your parents. What did they do? What are some of your fondest memories?     My mom was a full-time homemaker. My father was an engineer. He wanted me to be an engineer. They were great parents. They had high expectations, but their love was never conditional on your achievement. My mother told me, whatever I did, be self-sufficient. I knew I had to be prepared to earn a living. She was very liberated for the time but also conservative. She valued education. She had wanted to be a dietician — she loved menus and food and always fed us balanced meals. When she died I founded a scholarship in her name at Texas Woman’s University because they had a nutrition program there.

What is your best time of day?     Early morning. I used to be more of a night person. Then at Texas Woman's University we had to be at work by 7 a.m. I found out you could get up and do a lot.

Tell us something about yourself that most people would be surprised to know.     I worked in a clinical lab one summer, and I boosted the doctor's business. It was the way I treated the patients, I guess. But I didn't want to work with sick people, knowing what they had and what would happen to them. The doctor offered me the opportunity to own the lab if I didn't go to grad school. I thought long and hard about that. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I had taken that route. But I felt I had more opportunities with grad school.

The only decision I ever regretted … when I graduated from college, five friends went on a college kids' tour of Europe. I was too afraid of getting into debt and I didn't go. It would have been a perfect time in life — when you're still just a little bit innocent. I went years later with Charlie but it wasn't quite the same.

How did you and Charlie meet?     We met at a dance. It was the Manhattan College Engineers Ball — Charlie's junior year. I went with one of his friends and he came with another girl.

We grew up a block from each other but went to different schools. Charlie went to private school, and I went to public school. I knew his family. I was a candy striper at the hospital and I remembered his mom because she was a patient there. I met his father then. I knew them both before I ever met Charlie.

Charlie was different from anyone else I knew. Eclectic.

What does the A in your name stand for?     Ann.

What's your maiden name?     Nagengast. It's German.

Favorite color?     Blue

Favorite food?     Italian (my mom was Italian). I also love chocolate, oatmeal cookies and coconut macaroons.

Do you cook?     Yes. Charlie likes my pot roast and London broil. He's a cook too. For Thanksgiving, he made us poached salmon, potatoes and asparagus.

Why do you drink decaf?     I drink two cups of real coffee in the morning. After that, it gives me heart palpitations and gets me too wired. I like herbal teas and sparkling seltzer water.

How do you remember names so well?     I try to put some association with it — hair color, eyes, what they had on. I usually can remember the conversation I had with individuals.

With a speech, I try to read over the ideas I want to get across and in what order. I visualize it in my brain. When it's something critical like numbers, I read it. I usually feel when a speech is read it's not as sincere and heart-felt. It goes back to teaching — what ideas do I want to get across to this class? I organize it in my head. I used to have a great memory.

Who shops for you?     Me.

Who does your nails?     Me.

How many scarves do you have?     I tried to estimate this. I have over 200. It started when floppy bows were in style in the '80s. I bought a scarf book once and went home and tried it … and I thought, wow, you can really do a lot of different things with scarves. It adds some distinctiveness to a plain suit.

I also love pins. Charlie has bought me some beautiful jewelry through the years. My mother used to buy me lots with my birthstone (topaz), but when I got married she said it was now my husband's responsibility.