COMMUNITY LEADERS
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Liz
CHRISMAN AGE: 33 OCCUPATION: Director of Photography at
Arkansas Tech University, Photography Editor for ABOUT the River Valley and freelance creative
HOMETOWN: Ozark, Arkansas FAMILY: Most immediate: Partner to
Elizabeth, daughter of Stephanie and Johnny. Elizabeth is the senior graphic designer at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Stephanie is a retired high school english teacher and Johnny is a senior compressor foreman. My family’s history, referencing back to the March 2018 issue, could be its own novella.
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What is your favorite book and why?
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, like most great artists, wasn’t fully appreciated until his demise. I love that his works mostly centered around a time period (The Jazz Age) and are brimming with symbolism. His bittersweet relationship with the bourgeois makes for deep, introspective reading. This cornerstone novel, in particular, contains just the right amount of unrequited love, intrigue, materialism, and social dynamics all tied up in a bow to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
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Photo by LIZ CHRISMAN 40
ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~
JUNE 2020
Dog or cat? Why?
I can argue with myself all day about this choice. My dog, Dobby, truly should be listed amongst my family at the top. He has the ability to equalize a group of people with his demeanor. I grew up with farm cats as a standard and my best friend through undergrad was a rescued calico. I relate to them in personality — but really, do you ever “own” a cat?
