Interview with UCSC Alumna and ITS Former Student Employee, Fernanda Rojas
Fernanda Rojas graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2018 with a major in Legal Studies and a minor in History. She worked in Information Technology Services (ITS) as a student lab consultant in 2016 and was promoted to a student lab manager until she graduated in 2018. Today, Fernanda works at UC Riverside where she serves as a Multimedia Services Coordinator in the Multimedia and Classroom Technologies department in ITS.
Why did you choose to work in ITS over some other job on campus?
I love interacting with customers and that was the biggest part when it came to managing the computer labs, especially over at Cowell College. That was my favorite lab because you got to help a lot more customers. Plus, I was able to gain technical experience, learning to manage both Windows and Macintosh systems.
How did your ITS Supervisor help launch your career?
If it would have not been for the guidance and confidence my ITS supervisor, Jennifer Miller, instilled in me, I would not be where I am today. My current position asked for 4-5 years of experience yet I only had 2 years. But, in my interview I was able to demonstrate the knowledge I gained in so little time at UC Santa Cruz. Jennifer's way of handling tough situations with student employees is an example I now follow and apply to my own student employees. She gave her students the ability to believe they were capable of much more than we often limited ourselves to.
In reflecting back on your time in the position, what are some of your big takeaways?
The importance of how one's individual commitment to their work can make or break a team. The UCSC computer labs required everyone to be on the same page. If I did not do my part to train my team then they would have a harder time enforcing the policies that should have been taught in the training portion.
Also, it is crucial for the students to see and know the work that each person of the team puts into the job in order for them to know that their part matters. It's also important to let them know they are appreciated and their work does not go unnoticed.
Why Work in ITS?
In closing, Fernanda highly recommends a job in ITS to other UC Santa Cruz students, stating that "the experience and knowledge you gain from this job can be the stepping stone to start up your career in IT, in higher education or in general."
