For anyone who’s ever picked up a cup of joe at Midnight UG, rented a DVD from Movie Mayhem or indulged in a late-night snack at Vital Vittles, Jillian Duran (COL ’07) was one of the behind-the-scenes forces that made it all possible. As the chief operating officer of the Corp, Duran keeps things moving at the nation’s largest student-run corporation. Now, she talks about her leadership role, and the other hats she wears on the Hilltop.

How long have you been working in the Corp?

I started as a cashier at Vittles the fall of 2004, my sophomore year.

What did you like about the Corp that kept you going?

When I first started working at the Corp, I guess I just applied to be a cashier. But then I got to know some really good people, really good at what they did. As I got to know more people, they started saying, `Hey, have you thought about applying for this?’ or `Have you thought about applying for that?’ so it was actually March of my sophomore year that I applied to be the director of the Book Co-op.

What is your current position at The Corp?

The COO – Chief Operating Officer – so I’m one of three officers that handle the day-to-day operations of the Corp. Basically you just oversee it all, or you are specified.

At the top of the Corp, the . Upper Management is the director of each service as well as departments like Marketing and Human Resources, and there are 15 people total that run the Corp. And 12 of them have specific tasks they focus on.

Why should students become involved in the Corp?

People always ask `Why the Corp? What does the Corp do?’ So many people, when they start, they don’t know anything about it. It’s just a job, you know. It’s an extra $50 to $100 a week, just kind of mad money or if you’re bored. Especially during your freshman or sophomore year if you have extra time, a few hours you can get out of your room. But it turns so quickly into your friends, your job and your kind of club activity. The great thing about the Corp is that it becomes a part of so many different areas of your life.

Is there anything new coming out in the Corp?

The [Movie Mayhem] movie kiosk is probably the big thing. We’re always trying to make new small things. UG is doing this new thing called the Drink of the Month Program and each month the drink will be related to a student group and a certain amount of money sold from that drink will go to that group.

What else are you involved in on campus?

The Corp is probably my biggest time commitment, but it’s not the only thing I do. I am the co-director of the 8 p.m. mass choir at Dahlgren [Chapel] and then I am actually starting – in a few weeks, I guess – I’m going to be one of the students on the College Admissions Committee.

How do you feel about Georgetown?

Georgetown is great. I’m from Texas, so it’s really different from where I’m from. But it was great, because I got to try all different things that I didn’t do growing up. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to explore and learn more about myself.

What has made the most impact on your life at Georgetown?

The Corp really has defined my Georgetowns experience, I know its cliche for me to say the topic that we have been talking about, but it really is. It’s something that I did on a whim in my sophomore year because I was bored, and it so quickly turned into my friends, my social life, my job, my activity. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

– Interview by Meghan Keneally