Marcell is an early childhood teacher, and producer and host of Dunedin children's radio show 'Space Station Kiwi' with listeners all over the world.
Tell us what you studied at Otago?
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies, Bachelor of Education, and a Diploma of Teaching in primary teaching.
A few years later I did a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
What is your job now?
At this point I'm an early childhood teacher with the University of Otago Childcare Association.
I have a lot of fun doing that.
Tell us about some career high points so far?
Radio-wise, it's hard to know where to begin – interviewing sitting Prime Ministers like Helen Clark, a vast array of people in the community, amazing children and families, and children's musicians.
And some highlights of your time at Humanities?
I'd like to say that it was studying hard and being a good student, but most importantly I worked on developing my character.
What did your Otago experience teach you?
It taught me a lot of useful skills like the ability to research and to critically analyse and think.
I learnt how to develop a good argument. And as for teaching - learning about how children learn.
Do you have any advice for students thinking of studying Arts at Otago?
Make the most of it.
Apart from getting stuck into the books, see the magnolias in the Quadrangle – if you're not already studying by the time they blossom, you definitely should be.
Get involved in clubs and societies like OUSA. Make as many friends as you can, go tramping, get to the beach, go surfing, experience all that Dunedin has to offer.
It's an amazing city.
What would you say to someone wanting to follow a similar track?
Do it. It's a wonderful job … and we need more blokes in early childhood education, because children need balance.
If you want a rewarding career, it's a fantastic way to go.
One big memory of student life at Otago?
We'd occupied the Registry during a protest about student fees, and I being a teaching student, decided to turn the Vice Chancellor's office into an art gallery for children.
Every child who came in drew little pictures and we very carefully put them on the walls, so the entire room became a gorgeous collection of children's artwork.
That's a great memory.