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Oh, to be Omnilingual

Tax specialist assists international students and visitors with U.S. paperwork

Jackie Pollmiller, right, with her friend Pam Burkhead before an Aerosmith concert in Greensboro. Photo courtesy of Jackie Pollmiller.
Jackie Pollmiller, right, with her friend Pam Burkhead before an Aerosmith concert in Greensboro. Photo courtesy of Jackie Pollmiller.

Name: Jackie Pollmiller

Position: Foreign National Tax Specialist.

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Years at Duke: 9

What I do at Duke: I assist international students who are getting a scholarship, fellowship, or grant through the process of getting an Individual Tax Payer ID number.  At the beginning of the semester, I can see as many as 150 students in a month's time. I also help short term international visitors who come to Duke University to present at a conference or involved in some other activity that involves an honoraria or reimbursement in filling out the required tax paperwork.  

If I could have one superpower, it would be: To have the gift of omnilinguilism - the ability to understand and speak any language. I'd be able to communicate with animals and even computers, as well as people. And it would be cool to see the faces of international students and visitors if I came out speaking their language fluently. 

To start a conversation with me, ask me about: Books. We have an unofficial book club in our office - about five or six of us have conversations about the books we are reading and are constantly trading with one another.  I love to read thrillers and mysteries like James Patterson's Women's Murder Club books. 

If I had $5 million, I would: Buy a big piece of land where I could take care of all the unwanted animals I see. I already have two rescued pets; a cat named Tigger and a tall skinny lab-bulldog mix named Loki.

My first job: Selling shoes at the Butler Shoe Corporation in Jacksonville, North Carolina my senior year of high school.

My dream job: To run a tiki bar on a beach with good food and drink and lots of music. 

The music you are most likely to catch me listening to is: Classic rock music, particularly Aerosmith.  My first eight-track-tape was their song "Toys in the Attic" in the late 70s.

What I love about Duke: The diversity.  There are so many different things happening at Duke.  You have great health care, you have football, basketball. There are always interesting things to do and interesting people to meet.

Something unique in my office: I have several rubber lizards on my desk. We like to play tricks on each other in this office, and I often buy bags of rubber bugs to put around people's workstations. But I like the lizards, so I keep them myself. 

The most memorable moment at work: I could say the day I was nominated as a Blue Devil of the Week because I didn't expect it. But the other really memorable moment was when the Rolling Stones gave a concert at Wallace Wade Stadium in 2005. Where else can you see the Rolling Stones at the place you work?