Maha Gingrich, Central Piedmont Community College

Position: assistant public
information officer, Central Piedmont Community College

Lives in: University area

Family: husband, Scott;
daughter, Pavani, 16

Maha Gingrich might be called a workaholic in some circles.

While some students take seven or more years to complete their doctoral degrees, she got hers in 3 1/2 years.

“I killed myself in the process,” she said, “but I did it. I deal with whatever comes my way.”

Gingrich emigrated to the U.S. from India in 1984, immediately throwing herself into her studies upon arrival. In 1986, she moved to Charlotte.

She said her transition to U.S. citizen was an easy one, if somewhat humorous at times thanks to a slight language barrier.

In India, she was taught formal English. There, some words have a different meaning than they do in the U.S., she said. For example, in the U.S. a date is not only a type of fruit but also something that two lovers can go on.

Minor language barrier issues like those only made Gingrich laugh, though.

“I think it’s very important that we laugh at things in life and laugh at ourselves,” she said. “Otherwise, we’ll never make it. Laughter gives us energy and positive reinforcement.”

Energy is something she definitely needs in her role as assistant public information officer for Central Piedmont Community College, where she began her academic career decades ago.

She represents the college within various community organizations, is a project manager, conducts workflow and financial analysis and manages CPCC’s acquisition of WTVI, the local public broadcasting affiliate.

On the side, she teaches 3,000-year-old classical Indian dances.

“I’ve been doing these dances since I was 5 years old,” she said. “It’s something I look forward to that energizes me and activates the creative side of my brain.”

One of the things she tells others who ask her for advice is to find the balance between work, family and fun.

“Only you can decide what that balance is,” she said.