March 23, 2023

UW Libraries’ Amazing Student Employees

UW Libraries’ student employees are at the heart of what we do. 

Almost every aspect of Library operations rely on support from student employees working in libraries across all UW campuses. They help users find resources and other essential tasks, but they also take on leadership roles, advance community education, act as mentors and teach valuable skills to others.

Since 1992, UW Libraries has recognized the achievements of our outstanding student employees through an annual scholarship award, generously sponsored by UW Libraries donors.  This year’s 50 recipients demonstrate ingenuity, outstanding customer service and work ethic. The amazing 2023 recipients exemplify how library student employees contribute to UW excellence in so many and often unexpected ways. But don’t take our word for it…

Join our Team!

Check out UW Libraries and UW Press student positions. UW Libraries is always hiring!  See current job openings and learn more. Interested in a career in publishing? Every year, UW Press provides students internship opportunities that offer on-the-job experience and mentorship from publishing professionals. Hear from students about their experiences as a UW Press student intern.

The following excerpts from award recipients’ essays say it all so well…

“As a graduate student in Communication and Multimedia at UW, I never expected to find relevant opportunities at UW Libraries. It wasn’t until I learned about the Open Scholarship Commons (OSC) initiative that I realized the vast scope of the libraries in the university community and beyond.  My first project involved planning and implementing two open podcasting workshops, one for UW students and the other for instructors, with the help of two talented colleagues. This was my first time facilitating a workshop, so I was naturally a bit intimidated. However, my colleagues went above and beyond to support me, encouraging me to lead some of the sessions even though I wasn’t sure if I was capable. I not only gained confidence in leading sessions but also found the work to be very fulfilling.”

– Gautam Malyala, Scholarly Communications and Publishing, Graduate Student, Master of Communication in Digital Media

“In the labyrinth of the sub-basement, I’m finding ways to meet people where they are–through their voices in donated collections. As Gifts Program specialists, we build bridges between Huskies and donors from all walks of life, described by their personal arrangements of books. My duties entail more than cataloging gifted books and media; each incoming box is an extension of the donor that holds their lifelong passions. I must treat each book with the respect I would give the donor if we met in person…Serving the Gifts Program under Carolyn Aamot’s supervision has taught me what true support entails–and how I can extend such kindness to others.”

– Jennie Jeon, Gifts Program, Sophomore, Pre-Sciences Major

“A specific project that I am proud of is my update of our College and Career Planning collection. With the supervision of a staff librarian, I added titles that explore, among other topics, navigating university life, mental health, and career guides pertaining to UWT’s specific majors. I put in significant effort to research titles through a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens, looking for books that offer perspectives of marginalized populations— namely people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and disabled people. I learned a great deal on how to navigate the extreme responsibility of selecting what information patrons have access to, by assessing community needs through an equitable lens and not one solely based on my own experiences and potential biases.”

– Madison Phares, UW Tacoma Library, Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

As illustrated in these examples, our student employees make a positive and lasting impact on the Libraries and our entire university community.

Congratulations to all of the 2023 scholarship recipients! (See full list below).

2023 UW Libraries Employee Scholarship Awardees

Abigail Reeb, Central Circulation Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Amber Mak, Instructional Design and Outreach Services, Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Art Dio Kang, Research Commons, Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

Artemis Lonán, Collections Analysis and Strategy- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Carlos Alberto Manrique Ucharico, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Systems

Catherine Jensen, UW Tacoma Library- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Claire Longcore, Acquisitions & Rapid Cataloging Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Economics & Bachelor of Arts in History

Connie Cheng, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Deepika Bhattarai, Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Real Estate

Diana Jessica Quintero-Perez, Research Commons- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Communities and Organizations

Emma Lane, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Emma Wynne, Assessment, Data Visualization, and Planning- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Evan Cullum, Odegaard Access and Building Services-Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in English & Bachelor of Arts in Scandinavian Area Studies

Gabriel Guo, Research Commons- Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

Gautam Malyala, Scholarly Communications and Publishing- Graduate Student, Master of Communication in Digital Media

Grace Zackula, Health Sciences Library- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Public Health – Global Health

Iris Miyagi Rivera, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Library Technology Services- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Community Psychology

Izak Hosmer-Dillard, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Jennie Jeon, Gifts Program- Sophomore, Pre-Sciences Major

Joe Lollo, Instructional Design and Outreach Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Jonghyuk Park, Odegaard Writing and Research Center- Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in Law, Societies, and Justice

Juliet Monet Torres, Central Circulation Services-Graduate Student, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling

Khalid Elhousieny, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Library Technology Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering

Kimberlie Sullivan, Gifts Program- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Liam Patrick Bryant, Special Collections-Graduate Student, Master of Arts in Museology

Maddy Renee Wilson, Odegaard Access and Building Services-Graduate Student, Master of Social Work

Madison Phares, UW Tacoma Library-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Maeve Seyer, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Pre-Sciences Major

Malaika Ashraf, UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library – Access Services-Junior, Bachelors of Arts in Psychology & Bachelors of Arts in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Mathieu Chabaud, Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers-Freshman, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Melissa Fallon, UW Tacoma Library-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Miles Hyun Hairston, UW Tacoma Library – Access Services-Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

Natalia Salais, Special Collections-Sophomore, Bachelor of Arts in History

Natalie Brown, Central Circulation Services-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Nestor Amador Guerrero, Special Collections-Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Oliver Mauer, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Sciences in Biochemistry

Olivia Frank Andersen, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in English & Bachelor of Arts in Danish

Pavel Lvovich Batalov, Research Commons- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Quinn Rundell, Learning Services – Student Success- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Bachelor of Arts in History: Race, Gender, Power

Rachel Oommen, Reference and Research Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Global Health 40

Shaye Anis, Special Collections- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Shrusti Bharatbhai Ghela, Scholarly Communications and Publishing- Graduate Student, Master of Science in Data Science

Sihan Yang, Tateuchi East Asia Library- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Sue Hunsaker, Central Circulation Services- Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Art History

Summer Xuan Dai, Tateuchi East Asia Library- Graduate Student, PhD in the Built Environment

Taylor Nishimoto, Libraries Advancement- Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Tianque Gao, Odegaard Access and Building Services- Senior, Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Tina Nowak, Reference and Research Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science

Yi Xiang Ngeow, Central Circulation Services- Junior, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

Zhuo Pan, Cataloging and Metadata Services- Graduate Student, Master of Library and Information Science