On Her Nightstand: Liz Bushnell

By Wendy Stein

Liz Bushnell is the Executive Director of Questa Education Foundation and has spent her career working in higher education. She previously worked at Manchester University and the University of Maryland University College campus in Mannheim, Germany. She holds a doctorate in higher education from Indiana State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Bowie State University, and a bachelor’s degree in business and political science from McDaniel College. Though originally from Michigan, Liz has enjoyed living in Northeast Indiana for over 18 years. She enjoys reading, traveling, and playing games with her husband and two children.

On Her Nightstand

What are you currently reading?

I just finished re-reading “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel for about the third time. It’s one of my favorite books ever. HBO just released a mini-series adaptation, so I wanted to read it again before trying the show. Of course, the book is always better, so I’m always nervous that a screen adaption will lose what’s great about a story. The book is amazing — it’s about the world after a pandemic flu kills nearly the entire population. It sounds terribly depressing, especially in our COVID times, but it’s really hopeful. It goes back and forth in time before and after the flu, following stories of multiple characters who connect in interesting ways. There’s great beauty and appreciation for what was lost, and beauty in what remains and how people survive. I highly recommend it (the book at least… jury is out on the show!)

What’s your favorite book of all time?

In addition to “Station Eleven,” some of my favorites are “Atlas Shrugged,” “Bossy Pants,” “The Night Circus,” and “This is a Happy Marriage.” I could go on… I can’t pick just one.

What’s a book you’ve always meant to read but haven’t gotten around to?

“Wicked”…it’s been on my shelf for a long time, I just haven’t picked it up yet. I also haven’t seen the show, which was popular about 20 years ago. No rush now!

What was your favorite book as a child?

“Anne of Green Gables” — I still love this book!

Who is your favorite author?

Ann Patchett is one of my favorites. She has a really cool writing style, and her books are dramatically different stories and settings. She didn’t stick to one type of book. I think that’s why I enjoyed “This Is a Happy Marriage” so much — it’s a collection of articles she’s written on a bunch of different topics, but it also tells her story and a lot about her writing process.

What’s your favorite genre?

Historical fiction

Real books or e-reader? Or audio books?

Definitely real books, but I used to have a decent commute and listened to a lot of audio books, which can be fun — especially for books where the author’s voice delivers the book as it was intended -like “Bossy Pants” by Tina Fey. But, I’ll always prefer a real book in my hands. a