The people who keep Xavier running

By Asialyn Amaree Swayzer

Before many Xavier University students begin their day, employees are already working to make sure the university is ready for them. From dining staff and custodians to shuttle drivers and student workers, many people play a part in keeping Xavier operating. Dining staff begin preparing meals in the early morning hours, while student employees help administer exams and connect their peers with academic resources throughout the day.

“We’re here to help and not hinder,” said Larry Lee, a senior operational supervisor with Sodexo who has worked at Xavier for 12 years. Lee said the relationship between students and campus employees should be viewed as a partnership.

As students move through their day, these efforts often become part of the routine, making it easy to overlook the people behind them. Through their work, they support students, build relationships and help shape the campus experience.

Lee said dining staff begin back-of-house preparation around 6 a.m., cooking and preparing the day’s entrees before front-of-house employees bring the finished products to students. The process requires employees to maintain the same level of preparation and service each day.

“Consistency. Making sure that everyone understands that every day, you know, it’s the same thing. You have to have your A game and be prepared,” Lee said.

For Jacqueline Wooding, a custodian who has worked on Xavier’s campus for approximately seven years, her responsibilities extend beyond maintaining the university’s facilities. Over the years, Wooding, affectionately known as Ms. Jackie, has developed relationships with students and become a source of encouragement throughout their college experiences.

“It’s been a pleasure building relationship with the students. I enjoy motivating the kids in pursuing their education,” Wooding said.

Wooding said her experiences working in the University Center (UC) and other campus buildings helped her build those relationships. Now, encouraging students has become an important part of her work.

Arin Dale, a senior public health major with concentrations in history and biology, has worked directly for Xavier as a test proctor in the Testing Center in St. Joe’s for about a year and a half. Dale proctors placement exams for incoming freshmen and CLEP exams for students who want to test out of courses while still receiving credit. When she began working in the Testing Center, she noticed that some students assumed their proctor was part of a third-party organization rather than a Xavier employee.

“I feel like I really do make an impact on those students that I am proctoring,” Dale said.

Dale initially did not consider herself one of the people who keep Xavier running. But after thinking about what would happen if student proctors were not available to assist with incoming students’ exams, she said she would consider herself part of that group.

“If they didn’t have this test proctor, you know, who will watch over those students, the incoming students?” Dale said.

Both student workers and full-time employees play roles that extend beyond their job descriptions. Lee has watched students move through different stages of their college careers. He said one of the most rewarding parts of his job is when students return and remember the relationships they formed with dining employees.

“I get to know more than others, and I think the most beneficial thing is watching them returning and saying, ‘Mr. Larry, you know, I remember those days, and you kind of helped me through it,’” Lee said.

Similarly, Wooding said she recognizes the challenges students face and makes an effort to offer encouragement when she notices someone struggling. She emphasized that helping students stay focused on their education is one of the ways she contributes to the Xavier community.

“The students go through a lot. I always remind them that they are here for a reason,” Wooding said, recalling what she tells students who may be discouraged.

Lee said students may not always realize that employees genuinely enjoy their work and watching students grow throughout their time at Xavier. For sophomore Shannon Chuli, a neuroscience pre-major, the work of campus employees is something students encounter regularly, but recognition does not always translate into acknowledgment.

“I would want to say students do recognize, but it’s not acknowledged all the time,” Chuli said.

Chuli said she tries to show appreciation through actions that make employees’ jobs easier.

“I try to at least keep my environment clean or make it easier for them instead of making it harder because I know work is already harder,” Chuli said.

For Chuli, recognizing the people behind Xavier’s daily operations means understanding both what they have already contributed and what they continue to do.

Students should understand “how much work they have done and how much work they are still doing,” Chuli said.

The people serving Xavier’s community are not simply completing tasks in the background. They interact with students, answer questions, prepare spaces and provide services. In many cases, they also become familiar faces throughout students’ college experiences.

For Wooding, that connection comes with a message she hopes students carry throughout their time at Xavier.

“Take advantage of your opportunities and run with it. You can do this,” Wooding said.