Portrait of Iren Smith.

Iren Smith

Student Assistant, Building Operations Length of service: 2 years and 5 months

Education

Major: Bachelors of Social Work
Pronouns: He/him


Working in the Libraries

What has been your favorite part of working in the Libraries?: I’ve truly valued the opportunity to connect with my peers and cultivate meaningful relationships. I find all my coworkers amazing and I can’t wait to see the work that they do!

Can you give us one (or more) example of an achievement or special memory from your time working for us?: One cherished memory was stepping into the role of a lead and training our new hires over the summer by myself. It felt a little daunting being the only lead for a little bit, but the experience was deeply rewarding thanks to the incredible team we built. I find myself missing that tight-knit summer crew a lot.

What is next for you? Short-term or long-term plans: I am spending the next year completing my Master’s of Social Work at UNR, then eventually I aim to build a lasting hospice care program that serves all ages.

Supervisor Responses from Jessica Trujillo-Moses:

What has been your favorite part of working with Iren?: My favorite part of working with Iren has been his calm demeanor! Whenever I ask him to complete a task or let another student worker know something, he has this quiet confidence that has grow so much in his position as a lead.

What is one job-related achievement or memory of Iren?: When Iren became a lead, he had answered a few of his interview questions with some hesitation about speaking up. During his time as a lead, I’ve watched him grow into this leadership role, have confidence during training new hires, and manage his lead project with care and intention!