How Siebel Center for Design Is Shaping the Next Generation of Professionals

“What do the student employees even do at Siebel Center for Design??”

Siebel Center for Design is a perfect space for human-centered innovation and creativity for students and staff to thrive on campus. Behind the scenes, student employees play a vital role in providing assistance to the center’s daily operations, contributing to its many outreach and programming initiatives. Through our efforts, we help bring ideas to life!

But don’t get it twisted! Siebel Center for Design is just as helpful to us as we are to it.
I joined the marketing team in May of 2025, not knowing exactly what to expect, just ecstatic to finally work a position related to my major, which was marketing at the time. It’s safe to say that I’ve gained a plethora of marketing experience, but boy did I gain so much more than that!

During my time here I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many different projects that exposed me to communications, journalism, graphic design, media, event planning, and much more. Great gems to add to my portfolio!

Prior to my employment here, I’ve never been able to work with a professional camera, and now I can use cameras to capture valuable moments at events. That’s one more skill to add to my resume that may come in handy during my job search. I recently shifted my major to information systems and business analytics, which I've been able to apply to my role as well.

But this is not just my story, my colleagues can closely relate. Siebel hires students from many different majors and backgrounds, and has still been able to supplement
their professional development. Here are some of their testimonials, starting with the lab attendants that work within the heart of Siebel, The Shop, where they are constantly getting interactive hands-on experiences.

The Shop is where all of the magic happens and is arguably the main attraction of the building. Think of it as one big arts and crafts spot, accessible to all students. Home to a variety of maker spaces including crafting, electronics, print, textiles, 3D printing, laser, CNC labs, and the joinery lab. With so much consistently happening, staff are responsible for ensuring smooth operations, assisting students with the various tools, and maintaining safety at all stations.

Joanna Spyratos, a Shop Lab Attendant studying Sociology and Psychology (Pre-Law), says that the fast paced environment has immensely sharpened her problem-solving skills.

“This position has given me opportunities to learn new ways to think of solutions. I’ve gained the skill of thinking on my feet when new questions or tasks come my way. These skills have definitely set me up for success in other areas of my life.”
- Joanna Spyratos

The constant innovation in the Shop also inspired the future lawyer to research patent law and explore how the creations in the lab can be applied to her field. Pretty cool, right?

And that's just The Shop! Programming Concierge are the beautiful faces you see at the desk upon entering Siebel. They are there to answer your questions and provide you support, ensuring a positive experience. In many ways, working at the desk closely replicates HR operations.

From answering phone calls and managing events to greeting guests and ensuring a welcoming experience, Kiley Neals, a Programming Concierge studying psychology is making the most out of her work here at Siebel. After sharing her career interests with our manager, Emily Bear, the two worked together to incorporate meaningful experience directly into her role.

With aspirations of entering the HR field after graduation, this role has been valuable to her. She has had hands-on experience coordinating with building residents, and fostering team morale; all skills that translate directly to a career in human resources.

In her own words:

"I feel like my time here has encouraged so much professional development, which I
honestly was not expecting.” - Kiley Neals

Now, let's shift to the communication hub of Siebel Center for Design, the Marketing Concierge (the BEST team, totally not biased). From reels highlighting events to promotional posts keeping students in the loop, the marketing team works endlessly to ensure you guys are always updated about what is happening around the building. Surprisingly, our team is made of students from a wide range of majors, some with absolutely no correlation to marketing.

Who would ever think that a Classics and Comparative literature major would make such an impact within marketing? Think again!  Annika Alfaro, another graduating senior, has done a phenomenal job at applying her unique skills to her role. Her responsibilities included writing copy, web stories, and emails. All valuable to Siebel’s operations and to her own professional growth.

She also speaks to how much her collaboration skills have developed, since her coursework is mostly individual.

“I’m thankful that they took a chance on me, a girl with such an unrelated major. I’ve learned so much about collaborating in teams, ideation, and most importantly human centered design.”
- Annika Alfaro

We can’t wait to see how Annika applies her new skills in the next chapter of her life. She's heading to Korea to teach English. A role that requires a great deal of teamwork and collaboration!

As I prepare to walk across the stage tomorrow (May 15th), I not only reflect on the impact I was able to make at Siebel Center for Design but the impact it had on me and my professional development. This has been such a well rounded experience, and I’ve added so many skills to my toolkit thanks to my time here.

On top of all of that, I’ve truly grown to love my colleagues who I’ve worked so closely with throughout the year. Siebel hires bright, innovative, driven students who I am certain will go on to do amazing things, and we are all leaving with a strong network because of it. So I want to formally say thank you, Siebel Center for Design, for the memories, the mentorship, the colleagues, all of it!