bon Voyage, Victoria

As we wish a fond farewell to our graduating GAs, we’re taking another opportunity to get to know them better and to share their fabulousness with you. They might be graduating, but Once Team Awesome, Always Team Awesome.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

Ghana. You don’t get bored. You can have fun and be yourself, it is welcoming.

What was your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

Being able to help people with their problems make their lives easier is fun.

Favorite game?

Chess.

Favorite place to hang out on campus?

The Quad.

Is there a technology that you’re super excited about?

Camera.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

My daughter.

Theme song of your life?

I’ve got Joy.

Favorite memory from the iSchool or what you’ll miss most?

My colleagues (at the Help Desk) and being with them.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind of animal would it be, what would you name it, and what unusual tricks would you teach it?

Cat; Bambi; teach her to dance.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it for good (or fun!) in the world?

Fly in and out, to go back to Ghana.

Plans/goals after graduation?

Hoping to get an offer to be a research librarian and manage social media and work on information literacy.

Whimsical Wanderings, Wanheng

As we wish a fond farewell to our graduating GAs, we’re taking another opportunity to get to know them better and to share their fabulousness with you. They might be graduating, but Once Team Awesome, Always Team Awesome.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

China, Sichuan. The relaxed vibe and Pandas!!

What was your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

Team Awesome/co-workers and our social events, connections with others at the iSchool.

Favorite game?

Baldur’s Gate 3.

Favorite place to hang out on campus?

iSchool HUB building/MPR.

Is there a technology that you’re super excited about?

AI Tools for slides.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Anime instead of real life.

Theme song of your life?

Anime song Number One from Bleach.

Favorite memory from the iSchool or what you’ll miss most?

The Help Desk/Social Gatherings.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind of animal would it be, what would you name it, and what unusual tricks would you teach it?

Bird; AI; teach it to talk in my voice to answer phone calls, etc.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it for good (or fun!) in the world?

Invisible (nothing illegal) to watch people and learn so it’s not weird.

Plans/goals after graduation?

Get a job! Get an apartment for long term to grow plants and vegetables.

Glorious Get-away, Gates

As we wish a fond farewell to our graduating GAs, we’re taking another opportunity to get to know them better and to share their fabulousness with you. They might be graduating, but Once Team Awesome, Always Team Awesome.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

Chicago. Lakefront Trail/the Food.

What was your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

The people who we work with and the people we help.

Favorite game?

Pathfinder 2nd edition; Kenshi.

Favorite place to hang out on campus?

Boneyard/Quad/Main Library.

Is there a technology that you’re super excited about?

Built PC/Linux (ed. note: getting pretty nerdy there, Gates!).

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Jake Gyllenhaal.

Theme song of your life?

Underdog by Spoon.

Favorite memory from the iSchool or what you’ll miss most?

The friends made, being close to Chicago and close to folks.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind of animal would it be, what would you name it, and what unusual tricks would you teach it?

A Raven. Doug. Stealing Money.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it for good (or fun!) in the world?

Telekinesis, vigilante stuff.

Plans/goals after graduation?

Going to Chicago; Model Painting Project; get a job.

Delightful Departure, Delia

As we wish a fond farewell to our graduating GAs, we’re taking another opportunity to get to know them better and to share their fabulousness with you. They might be graduating, but Once Team Awesome, Always Team Awesome.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

Rural Illinois. Sunset and fireflies.

What was your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

The people, everybody’s nice.

Favorite game?

Scrabble.

Favorite place to hang out on campus?

MidSummer Lounge.

Is there a technology that you’re super excited about?

iPads.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Lily James.

Theme song of your life?

Teenage Mutant Turtles Theme Song.

Favorite memory from the iSchool or what you’ll miss most?

GEO Parties. Dancing is fun.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind of animal would it be, what would you name it, and what unusual tricks would you teach it?

Dog that I have (or a tiny Griffin); Thumbelina, to not jump on people.

portrait of Delia with Thumbilina

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it for good (or fun!) in the world?

Make plants grow, save rain forests.

Plans/goals after graduation?

Public Libraries/Art Programming.

Au revoir, Audrey

As we wish a fond farewell to our graduating GAs, we’re taking another opportunity to get to know them better and to share their fabulousness with you. They might be graduating, but Once Team Awesome, Always Team Awesome.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

Versailles Missouri. The most beautiful sunsets from the back porch.

What was your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

Everyone coming over and chatting, being a central hub of the iSchool and getting to know people.

Favorite game?

Hollow Knight.

Favorite place to hang out on campus?

Caffe Paradiso.

Is there a technology that you’re super excited about?

Drawing tablets.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Keira Knightley.

Theme song of your life?

Walk by the Foo Fighters.

Favorite memory from the iSchool or what you’ll miss most?

The day Sinclair’s opened. Walking with GAs to get coffee.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind of animal would it be, what would you name it, and what unusual tricks would you teach it?

House Cat; Rubard; juggling.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it for good (or fun!) in the world?

Stop time, use it for more crafting.

Plans/goals after graduation?

Hoping to get a job a Vanderbilt for creative and instruction libraries. (Editor update: manifesting works! She got the job!)

Alum: Kiran Williams

Kiran

A graphic of a brown-skinned hijabi wearing green.

Kiran is a native of Princeton, New Jersey, where she loves how green the state is, how much farmland there is, and how beautiful its nature is. Kiran is our only first-semester, first-year MSLIS student at the iSchool, interested in pursuing a career as a research librarian in an academic library or special collections; she wants to connect BIPOC students with rare resources after graduation.

  • What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?
    • Solving mysteries and lovely, supportive coworkers
A deerstalker hat and magnifying glass.
  • What is your favorite board/video game?
    • Clue
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
    • East Coast, United States or St. Vincent and the Grenadines (father’s country)
Sunrise at Carnegie Lake, Princeton, NJ. Photo credit: Khürt Williams, Flickr.
Sunrise at Carnegie Lake, Princeton, NJ. Photo credit: Khürt Williams, Flickr.
  • Where’s your favorite spot to hang out on campus/CU?
    • My apartment
  • If given the opportunity, what book would you choose to reread again for the first time?
    • The Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb
  • What would your superhero superpower be?
  • Tie between an eidetic memory and the ability to read, write, and speak any language (past or present)
  • What technology are you *really* most interested in for teaching/learning?
    • AI/ChatGPT
  • Who would (or would you want to) play you in a movie about your life?
    • Me

Alum: Spring Olivares

Spring Olivares

Spring, a person with black and blonde hair and glasses, leans against the frame of a log cabin door.

Spring hails from Baltimore, Maryland, where she enjoys the history, being close to stuff, and the diverse population. She is a first year, second semester student in the MSLIS program, hoping to work in a museum or library in the future.

  • What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?
    • The people. It’s easy to do good work when you feel supported.
  • What is your video game?
    • The Layers of Fear series.
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
    • Japan or Nepal.
Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo credit: Anthony Surace, Flickr.
Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo credit: Anthony Surace, Flickr.
  • Where’s your favorite spot to hang out on campus/CU?
    • In Champaign-Urbana: My house. On campus: Near the Help Desk.
  • If given the opportunity, what book would you choose to reread again for the first time?
  • What would your superhero superpower be?
    • Invisibility.
  • What technology are you *really* most interested in for teaching/learning?
    • Canva.
  • If you were an animal, what would you be?
    • Llama.
A llama against a purple background wearing a hat.
  • Who would (or would you want to) play you in a movie about your life?
    • Keira Knightley.

Alum: Melissa Frazier

Yet another post in our Meet the Graduate Assistants series for the Spring 2023 semester! Today’s special feature is Melissa Frazier, who we asked about her favorite board game, campus hang-out spots, and her most anticipated technology instruction ideas!

Melissa

Melissa, a woman with wavy shoulder-length brown hair, sits at the Help Desk and smiles at the camera.

Melissa joined the Help Desk from Milwaukee/Madison, Wisconsin, where her favourite thing is the skate parks! Melissa is a first-year student in her second semester of the MSLIS program at the iSchool.

  • What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?
    • Co-workers and the lovely iSchool folks that come to the desk
  • What is your favorite board/video game?
    • Dominoes
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
    • Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Leeds Town Hall. Photo credit: Tejvan Pettinger, Flickr.
Leeds Town Hall. Photo credit: Tejvan Pettinger, Flickr.
  • Where’s your favorite spot to hang out on campus/CU?
    • Urbana Farmers’ Market
  • If given the opportunity, what book would you choose to reread again for the first time?
  • What would your superhero superpower be?
    • Teleportation
  • What technology are you *really* most interested in for teaching/learning?
    • Canvas
  • If you were an animal, what would you be?
    • Cat
A winking cat wearing a strawberry hat.
  • Who would (or would you want to) play you in a movie about your life?
    • Jennifer Lawrence

Alum: Jonas Yela

Jonas

Jonas, a red-haired, bearded man wearing sunglasses and all black, walks a dog.

Jonas comes to the Help Desk from Milwaukee, Wisconsin where his favourite thing is the lake. He is a second-year student in the MSLIS in his last semester at the iSchool.

  • What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?
    • Helping solve problems for people
  • What is your favorite board/video game?
    • Magic the Gathering/Dark Souls
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
    • Spain
Parque Guell, Barcelona. Photo credit: Jose Ramirez, Flickr.
Parque Guell, Barcelona. Photo credit: Jose Ramirez, Flickr.
  • Where’s your favorite spot to hang out on campus/CU?
    • Rose Bowl
  • If given the opportunity, what book would you choose to reread again for the first time?
  • What would your superhero superpower be?
    • Fly
  • What technology are you *really* most interested in for teaching/learning?
    • Anything that allows for the open creation and sharing of educational resources. Media Commons and the Illinois Wiki are a couple of examples, even if there may be tools that do the same thing better.’
  • If you were an animal, what would you be?
    • Capybara
A CAPybara (a capybara wearing a black baseball cap).
  • Who would (or would you want to) play you in a movie about your life?
    • Oscar Isaac

Alum: Kennedy Pasley

We’re back again today with another twofer special of awesome iSchool Help Desk Graduate Assistants! We’re starting off today with Kennedy Pasley, a sunny GA who we asked about her favourite on-campus hangout spot, ideal superpower, and much more!

Kennedy

Kennedy, an orange/yellow-haired woman with square glasses, cradles an orange cat like a baby.

Another Southern Illinois native, Kennedy’s favourite part of the her hometown is Quatros Pizza. She is a second-semester, first-year student in the MSLIS program at the iSchool, interested in pursuing a career in academic libraries as a student success librarian.

  • What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?
  • Love co-workers, love making graphics/social media, and TIKTOK!
  • What is your favorite board/video game?
  • Ticket to Ride
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
  • Thailand
Nong Nooch Dinosaur Valley, Thailand. Photo credit: Tomás Del Coro, Flickr.
Nong Nooch Dinosaur Valley, Thailand. Photo credit: Tomás Del Coro, Flickr.
  • Where’s your favorite spot to hang out on campus/CU?
  • Espresso Royale
  • If given the opportunity, what book would you choose to reread again for the first time?
  • The Broken Earth Series, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
  • What would your superhero superpower be?
  • Never be cold
  • What technology are you *really* most interested in for teaching/learning?
  • Canva
  • If you were an animal, what would you be?
  • Giraffe; I identify with them because I am so tall
Sir Giraffe III, in a top hat.
  • Who would (or would you want to) play you in a movie about your life?
  • Yourself