Deirdre Pfeiffer is an assistant professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, where she studies the effects of housing planning and policies on diverse communities. Before participating in a panel on rebuilding neighborhoods after foreclosures, she talked hugging the cello, saying farewell to L.A. traffic, and hunting for rocks in Arizona in the Zócalo green room.
If you could play an instrument, which would you choose?
The cello. I love the sound of the cello but also the way you hold the instrument—it’s very intimate, the way you’re embracing the instrument.
What do you proselytize for?
For us to live in a more just, fair society—a place that’s able to respond to all the changes that we’re going through right now. I proselytize for open-mindedness.
What don’t you miss about L.A.?
That’s easy: the traffic of course. My commute’s about 15 minutes here. Unfortunately, I do have to drive; in L.A. I was able to take public transit. But I’m a very happy commuter in Phoenix.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Fourth of July has always been my favorite. It’s nondenominational, it brings everyone together, it’s outdoors. You can eat grilled, fried foods. You watch fireworks together, and there’s a great sense of publicness.
When did you last eat fast food?
There’s a local burrito join near my house, Burrito & Company. I had that maybe three weeks ago. But it’s not a nationwide chain.
Do you collect anything?
Rocks. One thing I love about living in Arizona is it’s a geologist’s paradise: rocks everywhere, of all types. You can see all the changes over millions of years through the rocks.
What’s your biggest weakness?
Perfectionism. I’m very Type A when it comes to my work, and I’m very detail-oriented, so sometimes I have trouble seeing the forest for the trees. Sometimes I have trouble seeing the big picture.
What’s your favorite board game?
Settlers of Catan.
When did you last laugh?
This morning at something my husband posted on Facebook. We were going down to Southern Arizona to visit Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and on our way we went through Gila Bend, and there was a really sad billboard saying, “Don’t take meth because if you do, it could turn your girlfriends into prostitutes.” A horrible ad, and my husband was joking on Facebook that it was in our front yard, and it was a court-ordered ad. But he’s not a meth addict!
What do you do to clear your mind?
I live right by South Mountain, so I take walks in the desert pretty much every day.