On the first evening in the bustling university dining hall, amid lively chatter and clattering trays, you spot Michael. With a distinctive nerdy-chic style and an intense yet eccentric smile, he extends a hand across the table in a slightly theatrical introduction, creating a quirky, movie-like moment in the anticipation-filled atmosphere of the new academic year. "Hi. I'm Michael Gavey." He declares, holding the tension of the room. It almost felt a bit creepy, the smile and the glasses.