Ducks Give to Support Student Jobs & Internships
Help support a major driving force behind the UO Libraries’ daily operations: our student employees
Beyond the books, our 160+ student staff members are the heartbeat of our creative, academic community across UO’s library branches, making the Libraries one of the top sources of on-campus jobs for students. Not only do these positions help them thrive academically; they also prepare students with real-life job skills related to their majors.
Career readiness means having the essential skills and habits that are needed to thrive at work and manage a career over time. Using the career readiness standards outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), we help students gain a powerful competitive edge as they enter the workforce. NACE’s eight core competencies include: Career and Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity and Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology.
For Ducks Give 2026, we'e thrilled to showcase the personal and professional milestones of four team members who embody our core values. Explore their experiences, dedication, and vital impact on our community.
Yuri Espino
Student Assistant in the DeArmond MakerSpace, Price Science Commons and Research Library
A journalism major from Eugene, Yuri enjoys training her fellow students how to use the equipment—and follow rules for safety—in the science library's MakerSpace. She has a special affinity for the sewing machines, which help keep her connected to a craft she began learning at her Grandmother's side.
Ava Tempelaere
Stacks Assistant in the Special Collections and University Archives
A first-year student majoring in history, Ava Tempelaere recently took on her role in Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA). As a stacks assistant, Ava helps manage and retrieve archival materials for researchers and visitors.
Because SCUA is not a browsing library, materials must be requested in advance. Ava spends much of her time paging, meaning she locates books, manuscripts, and archival boxes in the stacks and brings them to the reading room, then re-shelves them once they are returned. For researchers and students that are remote, she will scan the material to make it accessible.
“There are so many cool things to look through, even if you’re not using the materials for research,” she explains.
Although she’s new to the role, Ava says the job has already helped her grow both academically and professionally. As someone interested in pursuing library science, she values being surrounded by mentors and supervisors.
“Working in SCUA has also allowed me to make so many connections with people, especially with upperclassmen. It has been so beneficial to be part of such a large network of student workers,” Ava says.
Help Unlock Generous Challenge Pledges - Every Gift Counts!
- McKnight/Thomas Challenge in Memory of Robert W. Thomas and Dorris Coombs Thomas - 20 Gifts unlocks $5,000
- Libraries Tim and Sue Hennessy Challenge - 40 Gifts unlocks $20,000
- Linman Family Student Employee Challenge - 60 Gifts unlocks $30,000
- Sheryl and Clayton Steinke Challenge - 80 Gifts unlocks $50,000
- Libraries Luminaries Challenge - 100 Gifts unlocks $55,000
Nicole Arena
Conservation Assistant in the Beach Conservation Lab, Knight Library
Planning for a career in art conservation, Nicole values the hands-on experience she's gaining as a student employee in the Beach Conservation Lab. As a painter herself, she's grateful for the opportunity to work with rare art materials and help preserve them for future generations of researchers.
Vikram Thirumaran
Quantitative Methods Consultant in Data Services, Knight Library
Meet Vikram Thirumaran, a third-year student majoring in computer science and data science.
In his role as a Quantitative Methods Consultant with Data Services at the University of Oregon Libraries, Vikram supports students campus-wide on academic projects that include coding, data management, and quantitative analysis. Much of his work takes place at Knight Library’s Data Services help desk, where students can drop in for support or schedule appointments based on their needs.
“I think drop-in hours are so important to have as well. I know for myself, I have classes and work back-to-back. Drop-in hours allow for more flexibility,” Vikram explains.
Beyond the day-to-day technical support, Vikram also sees his role as deeply connected to collaboration and access. As someone hoping to pursue graduate study, he views this job as professional preparation, giving him the opportunity to work through real-world research problems.
“This community is so tight knit, so just being in the space provides me with professional connections that will help set me up for the future,” he says.
Story by Izzy Smith (Class of '26, Media Studies) and Jason Stone | Video Editing by Harper Lombard (Class of '26, Advertising and Cinema Studies) | Videography by Andy Nelson, Advancement Communications | Photography by Izzy Smith and Mandi Garcia