Murrow College professors Tracy Simmons and Traci Gillig reflect on their relationship as they approach three and a half years together, and their second Valentine’s Day, as a married couple.
Simmons and Gillig first met early into the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simmons, an associate professor of Journalism, first noticed Gillig, an assistant professor of Strategic Communications, after reading faculty profiles, according to an article written by Simmons.
“I didn’t know much about Traci other than her research focused on gender and LGBTQ issues, which had piqued my interest,” she said. “I thought she was stunning, and to top it off, she was incredibly kind.”
The two were formally introduced through a mutual friend who organized a happy hour for them to get to know each other, Simmons said.
Simmons and Gillig soon began seeing each other frequently, beginning with a hike with a mutual friend at Kamiak Butte.
“I brought my dog, Finn, with me and was glad to see she loved dogs as much as me…I learned a lot about Traci that day…I pursued Traci by inviting her to do things with me as often as I could,” she said. “We went for hikes, bike rides, had dinners together, etcetera. We joke now that for a solid six months we “pre-dated” before I finally asked her on a date.”
Their official first date together: a Halloween party in Moscow.
“That first date was to a Halloween party because I knew that was one of Traci’s favorite holidays,” she said. “I dressed as a park ranger and Traci was dressed as Superman’s dad. The party was outside and it was freezing. We got ourselves away from the crowd and talked, looking up at the sky, where we saw a shooting star.”
A few weeks before Valentine’s Day, 2023, Simmons slipped a ring under Gillig’s pillow. Gillig said yes, and the two were married that July in a small ceremony in Geneva, Illinois, Simmons said.
“I think only 12 people came; we wanted to keep it small,” she said. “We got married at a beautiful Japanese garden and then had a delicious dinner with friends after,” she said.
According to Gillig, the two also held a celebratory just-married party once they were back in Pullman.
After a year and a half as a married couple, the two have bought a house and moved in together with their dog Finn and new puppy, Murray.
Reflecting on their simultaneous role as partners and co-workers, Simmons said the situation is overall positive.
“We understand that we both have endless grading and class prep to do, and we get the same days off,” she said. “We work in different departments, so don’t engage much at work. We see each other in faculty meetings on Zoom and get to go together to faculty holiday events.”
