Q: What do you really do at CLS?
A: My official title is Events Assistant at Arts and Events. Jamie DeAraujo [Arts and Events Manager] is our leader and really gives us the freedom to do a lot of what we'd like to do. So, as an event assistant or as an event planner, I see an event from its idea all the way through to the Feedback Survey we email.
I enjoying doing a lot of the arts in arts and events. I do a lot of the art-related events like the paint nights, paint & plant, and a lot of the categories of decorate a blank (i..e “decorate-a-candle, decorate-a-pumpkin”).
Q: How long have you worked at UCSF?
A: I started as a true UCSF employee on December 4 of 2023.
Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: Hearing people say things like, “that event was just the break that I needed from my work,” or “I didn't know that Arts and Events existed, and I came across the event, and I was able to paint some pottery and take it with me and it was the highlight of my week.”
The feedback we get is really one of my favorite pieces. But being able to be creative and have other people be creative alongside me, that brings them joy. That's my favorite part.
I was a craft instructor during the pandemic. I taught online classes on how to make pom-poms and tassels and tie-dye. Getting this job (at UCSF) was like an absolute dream come true. This is a dream job for me, one that I didn't even know I could have, and I count myself absolutely lucky every single day to have this job. Like I get to go hang out with puppies [at Puppies at Parnassus].
Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out at UCSF?
A: Start building connections with people just by introducing yourself. Saying what you do and inviting them to join you in your role, or to see what you're doing. Obviously, my job is very unique in the sense that I can invite people to come and do something fun, but building relationships with people even just by not being too shy to say, “Oh, hey! We had this meeting a couple of weeks ago. Remind me what it is that you do?” That will lead to you learning about other jobs at UCSF and maybe making a new friend or work connection that will help you in your growth.
I highly recommend also being uncomfortable, saying “yes” to things that may be out of your comfort zone.
I was asked to be a presenter at a meeting, and I was absolutely terrified. But you know, when somebody, like your boss'-boss's-boss asks you to do something, you say “yes,” and you do the scary stuff.
Q: Aside from being a craft teacher, what did you do before coming to UCSF or CLS?
A: I have a background in education. I graduated with a Master of Education in 2007 and then went straight into teaching during grad school. I was an elementary school teacher for a little bit. Then I moved to Costa Rica. I taught English in Costa Rica for 6 months, and then I came back and worked with my auntie at Bright Horizons. I did it for a long time and I really loved it. My daughter still goes to the school [Bright Horizons]. and it's right on campus. So, I'm still not far from her, which is great.
Q: Where'd you grow up?
A: I grew up in San Francisco. I am a San Francisco native born and raised here. I grew up in the same house that I live in right now. My parents live 2 floors above me. I Iove living and being from San Francisco.
I’ve lived in a couple of different places. While I was in college, I lived in Copenhagen, Denmark for 4 months for my study abroad in Danish Pedagogy and I loved that. I also studied Danish children’s literature. I got to study all about author Hans Christian Andersen. I learned about the history of Danish ballet. We went to the Royal Danish Ballet and saw The Little Mermaid, which is so stunning; and the Princess (now Queen) of Denmark showed up, which was a very cool experience. We were just like, “this is so incredible”. I love the theater. It brought even more pomp and circumstance to the whole evening.
Q: What do you do for yourself when you're not working?
A: Well, I have a toddler, so it's a lot of chasing a toddler around. I do very much enjoy cooking, and I have two cookbooks that I have written that are available on Amazon. I still craft when I can, but I mainly craft gifts, I never keep anything here. I really do like to make things and give them away.
I’m also very big into Halloween. We do trick or treating really big at our house. We host thousands and thousands of trick or treaters. We have over a hundred of pounds of candy. We just love Halloween. This is me as we speak. Look at that. [Amy shows a row of pumpkins on display].
Q: I need to know how many pumpkins you have. Have you done an inventory?
A: I have not 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…….27 and there's probably a 28 somewhere.
Q: Anything else you'd like your colleagues to know about you?
A: I am truly an introvert. That is something most people don't know about me. I have to be an extrovert at work. But I recharge by myself. I'm an introvert in the truest sense.