Chapman University student assistants are very important members of the Leatherby Libraries staff. The tasks they perform are critical to the efficient and successful operation of the libraries. Whether at a service desk, on the phone, or performing other tasks or projects, student employees are very important and appreciated. Meet our talented library student assistants and learn about the exciting projects they are working on. Enjoy!

Christopher Hoang

christopher

What is your name and title?


Christopher Hoang – ILL Assistant

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


Interlibrary Loan Department

What is your student job in a nutshell?


I process the lending portion of the interlibrary loans and assist with various tasks in the department.

What are you working on right now?


Besides filling out this form, I am processing more lending requests.

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


Since mid-May 2014; 3 months.

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


No.

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


I am especially proud of the time I configured the printer to fix ~900 mailing stickers’ department numbers.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


I am a biology major and I expect to graduate in the spring of 2017. Afterwards, I want to attend medical school and receive my license.

What career/s are you interested in?


I would love to work in the medical field as a private, public, or military doctor.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future
career field?


Yes. My student work has made me very familiar with navigating the school website; I am confident that I can use it to find any journals/articles pertaining to my classes and career field.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


I have been an avid gamer since I was a child and I am sure I can relate to any other gamer as well. Recently, I have developed a passion for electronics involving cars; I taught myself to be handy and repair any problems with mine or my family’s vehicles. If I have time, I spend it polishing my car and reading up how to enhance it.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


The last book that I read (and really liked) was
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
. It was a simple love story told in the form of letters through many people about a couple that died during WWII. The style of the novel was refreshing and a new experience to read.


Emily Neis

emily

What is your name and title?


Emily Neis, Special Collections and Archives Student Assistant

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


I work in the Special Collections and Archives Department!

What is your student job in a nutshell?


I get to catalogue rare books and sort through Chapman’s various collections, which include everything from puppets to WWI gas masks to Huell Howser’s video cassettes. I clean the displays you see around the library, and I create my own displays as well. I’ve also repaired damaged books, and I assist visitors to our department. It’s a new job every week!

What are you working on right now?


I just finished an archiving project where I combined several collections donated by Louise Booth, who was married to one of Chapman’s professors. The most interesting part of her donation was the correspondence between her and a French woman, Jeanne Roullet. They were pen pals for 72 years, and I had to put their letters in chronological order.

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


I started working in the Circulation Department in February 2011 of my freshman year. From there I’ve had the opportunity to move to other departments.

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


I’ve worked in Circulation, Serials, and Interlibrary Loan. Though I’ve moved around departments, I’ve stayed loyal to the library.

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


That’s easy—it was getting my name on the plaque in the Huell Howser Exhibit during the spring semester of my senior year! I was so happy that my name would have a permanent fixture in the library, because I’ve loved working here.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


I graduated with a double major in History and Spanish in May 2014.

What career/s are you interested in?


Working in the library has inspired me to want to be a librarian. I would especially like to continue working in archives.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


My student work at the Leatherby Libraries inspired my career choice. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work in several departments and get to know so many people here at the library. I’ve learned a lot about how things are organized and what computer systems librarians like to use, but most importantly the people here have given me advice and encouragement.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


I like writing stories with my sister and reading books. I also love music; I play the piano, viola, and organ.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


I just finished
Mockingjay
by Susan Collins, the last book in the
Hunger Games
trilogy.


 Julieta Quezada

julieta

What is your name and title?


Julieta Quezada, Circulation Student Assistant

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


Circulation Department

What is your student job in a nutshell?


Checking in and shelving books.

What are you working on right now?


Shifting books

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


1 year

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


No

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


I can picture where a book is if you give me the call number

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


Psychology, 2017

What career/s are you interested in?


Working with the community as a social worker or doing research as a Ph.D.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


Yes; I now know how to find good resources to use on my research projects, something that I will be doing a lot in the future.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


I enjoy running and reading a good book.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


One Hundred Years of Solitude


 Jeran Ulrich

jeran

What is your name and title?


Jeran Ulrich, Administrative Student Assistant.

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


I work on of the fourth floor of the library, but run errands throughout the library and all over campus.

What is your student job in a nutshell?


My job varies day to day, but entails assisting with administration with whatever they are working on. I spend a majority of my time organizing marketing materials, maintaining databases, and setting up events.

What are you working on right now?


Recently I have been organizing the massive photo database of the library to improve accessibility.

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


I started here January of 2014.

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


On campus, I have also worked for Guest Relations and with the Commencement Ceremonies team.

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


It was awesome having the opportunity to be a part of the process of the Huell Howser exhibit, a permanent display and resource located here at the library.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?
I’m a Business and Computer Information Systems double major, set to graduate spring of 2016.

What career/s are you interested in?


Looking for work that fuses my academic interest; I am exploring options in both the tech and finance realm.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


The Leatherby Library has been nothing but awesome and supportive of their student workers, and for me, it has truly given a greater sense of efficient management, and the value/benefit of exceptional administration. The directors of the library have created a great organizational system and culture, one that I have learned a lot from and will continue to utilize as a sort of guide for the working environments I aim to associate with once I have moved on from my work here, and strive to replicate when I am put into a position of management.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


I love managing my own dessert business, Sweet Fillings. I thrive on fulfilling people’s sweet tooth whether it be at catered events, selling at Southern California events, or local markets.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines left a lasting impression.


 Kate Chapin

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What is your name and title?


Kate Chapin, Circulation Student Assistant

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


Circulation and Serials

What is your student job in a nutshell?


I process incoming journals. I also check in and shelve circulating books along with special projects.

What are you working on right now?


We just finished sending journals to be bound. We are also currently shifting books in the Humanities Library.

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


1 year

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


Yes, Student Assistant to University Advancement and Student Assistant in the Kathleen Muth Reading Center.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


Integrated Educational Studies, Spring 2015

What career/s are you interested in?


Education that takes place outside of the classroom, such as librarianship.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


Yes, I’ve gained work experience and a knowledge of library systems.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


Reading, going to Disneyland, and spending time with my friends.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


I just finished reading
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
by John Green and David Levithan.


 Melanie Duke

melanie

What is your name and title?


Melanie Duke, Administrative Student Assistant.

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


I work on the fourth floor of the building in the Library Administration Department.

What is your student job in a nutshell?


I do a lot of different tasks for the library. Among them are alumni relations, creating and cleaning displays, distributing mail, donor relations, social media research, flyer and invitation designs, photography, secretarial duties, setting up for events, and visitor relations. All of these allow every day to be different, making my position here very dynamic and involved with what goes on at the library!

What are you working on right now?


My project at the moment is working on these student assistant profiles. Our project’s goal is to highlight the different student assistants working at the library over the summer and to show how much they do for us!

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


I started my position late February 2014 and have continued working since then, even during the summer.

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


My first job on campus, I have been very fortunate to find such a nice working environment with great supervisors.

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


Limited during the school year, the summer has given me the opportunity to become more acquainted with the many donors to the library. In preparation for the Italian-American Archives, I have been packing, organizing documents and photos, and learning about the very involved community. While doing so, I’ve learned an incredible amount not only about the heritage and efforts of the Italian-American community, but also its relationship to Chapman University. It has been a very unique experience.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


I am currently a Digital Arts major emphasizing in animation. I have been extremely happy with the program and plan on graduating in the spring of 2017.

What career/s are you interested in?


As much as I enjoy working at the library, my dream job is to work in the animation industry at a studio either making the next great Disney, Pixar or DreamWorks film! Animation is a happy marriage of art and film, both interests which I am very passionate about. I am very excited about my future and can’t wait to be in such a creative and inspiring environment.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


Though not related to the film industry, my student work has prepared me for my future occupations by teaching me how to handle many tasks at one time and collaborate with those around me.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


In line with my major, I constantly sketch, watch films and go to Disneyland in my spare time. I’m also an old soul so I enjoy watching classic movies and listening to the music of the 1920s, big bands and classic ‘80s rock on my beautiful record player. Taking dance lessons since I was three, I also love swing dancing, ballet and pointe work.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


I am currently reading the novella,
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
by Truman Capote, which was the basis for one of my all-time favorite movies. The last book I loved though was
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
by Therese Anne Fowler. A huge admirer of the Jazz Age, it wonderfully tells the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and how their young romance slowly spiraled into madness by the glitz and glamour of the “Lost Generation.”


Nick D’Andrea

nick

What is your name and title?


Nick D’Andrea, Circulation Student Assistant

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?


Circulation Department

What is your student job in a nutshell?


Managing the flow of books returned and checked out

What are you working on right now?


Shifting the Humanities library

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


3 years in September

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


No

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


No

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


Political Science, May 2015

What career/s are you interested in?


Teacher

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


No

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


Music, photography, and religion

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


Democracy Inc.


 Taylor Scavo

taylor

What is your name and title?

My name is Taylor Scavo, and I am a student assistant.

In what section or unit of the Leatherby Libraries do you work?

I work in the Cataloging and Acquisitions Departments.

What is your student job in a nutshell?


I receive and process books and other material that are firm orders as well as process gift books.

What are you working on right now?


Right now, I am processing books and DVDs that have recently been cataloged and preparing them to be ready for use. This involves applying dots and labels, property stamps, date due slips, barcodes, and security strips. After the items are physically processed, item records are created in Sierra, which involves assigning location codes and scanning barcodes into the records.

How long have you been at the Leatherby Libraries?


I have been at the Leatherby Libraries for eleven months.

Have you held any other jobs with Chapman University?


I began working in the Leatherby Libraries at the beginning of my freshman year, and it is the only job I have held at Chapman.

Do you have a favorite accomplishment at the Leatherby Libraries?


I do not have one favorite accomplishment. However, I feel accomplished after processing large carts of books and receiving compliments from my supervisors.

What is your major, and intended date of completion?


I am majoring in kinesiology and emphasizing in nutrition. I plan to receive my Bachelors of Science degree in 2017 and attend graduate school to obtain my Master’s degree in kinesiology.

What career/s are you interested in?


I am interested in becoming a college professor and teaching health, fitness and nutrition classes.

Has your student work at the Leatherby Libraries helped prepare you for your future career field?


Yes, working in the Leatherby Libraries has taught me to be organized and meticulous about my work. I will be able to apply these skills to my future career as a student and as a college professor.

What are your passions or interests outside of work and school?


Outside of work and school, I enjoy training at the gym with friends, boating in Lake Havasu with family, and filming action sports with my GoPro.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?


The last book I read was called
The Walk
by Stephen King. I like reading King’s novels because they are thrilling and suspenseful.


This “Library Student Employees Make a Difference!” article is modeled after Student Assistant Profiles post of the Pollak Library at California State University, Fullerton.