Finding Leadership, Community, and Purpose at Swem Library

Hi! My name is Jarin, and this is my fifth year as a student at William & Mary.

 

When I began my Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program in Fall 2020, I had no idea that five years later a part-time position at Swem Library would become one of the most transformative chapters of my academic and personal journey. Now, as a third-year Ph.D. student in the Education Policy, Planning, and Leadership (EPPL) program, I find myself growing not only as a scholar but also as a conscious, authentic, and globally minded leader.

 

Since April 2025, I’ve been serving as a Public Service Assistant in Swem Library’s Circulation Department. And in this role, I’ve discovered the beautiful intersection of theory and practice. Each day, I’m the first point of contact for students, faculty, and campus visitors. I check out books, process returns, manage reserves, and help guide people to the resources they need. But every task I complete is wrapped in intention.

 

A student with a quiet question becomes an opportunity to practice presence.

A lost visitor becomes a chance to offer direction with kindness.

A brief interaction becomes a moment to lead with grace and awareness.

 

What makes this experience even more meaningful is knowing the legacy I’m a part of.

 

Dean Carrie Cooper, our Dean of University Libraries, is a fellow graduate of the EPPL program. Even more inspiring, Gina Woodward, Dean Cooper’s Executive Assistant, once held a similar role to the one I currently hold as a Public Service Assistant in Swem Library. Knowing that such incredible women once walked the path I’m on now fills me with pride and purpose.

 

Being a Public Service Assistant is serious work. It’s not just about organizing materials, it’s about building community, offering care, and becoming a leader in the quiet moments. Every day, I feel inspired to carry forward the legacy of those who came before me, while paving a path for others to follow.

 

The Swem Library is where I’ve learned that conscious leadership can be present in the smallest interactions and that even the most ordinary roles can serve as a launching pad for extraordinary growth.

 

How I Got Here
 

My journey to Swem Library began through a meaningful connection with Camille Andrews, an Instruction & Research Librarian I met during our coursework in Spring 2025. That single conversation opened the door to what has now become one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic and personal life.

 

Though I am a U.S. national, I was raised in Bangladesh by Bangladeshi parents, a global upbringing that shaped my sense of resilience, adaptability, and purpose. I first entered the American academic world at the age of 17. Today, at 30, I carry with me not just academic and professional knowledge but lived experiences. I have worked as a Cost Analyst, a Client Support Specialist, and founded my own leadership consultancy. Each role helped me develop a multidimensional understanding of systems, people, and power.

 

But it wasn’t until I joined the Swem Circulation Desk that I truly understood what it meant to embody conscious leadership in action.

 

This role is about so much more than books. It's about people. It's about the quiet moments that often go unseen: a student searching for purpose, an adult learner grappling with self-doubt, and a first-year student yearning to feel a sense of belonging. In each of these interactions, I lead not with authority, but with presence, empathy, and intentionality.

 

I present myself as someone who has navigated challenges, transitions, and transformations. I have survived systems not always built for me, and every graduate student is, in some way, a survivor too. That is a truth we must honor.

 

At the desk, I don't just scan books. I model what leadership can look like when it is heart-centered, culturally aware, and rooted in lived truth. I am here to represent what is possible when resilience meets purpose and when scholarship is driven by love.

 

 

Right before the 4th of July, with most of our team away for the day, the Director of the Circulation Department, David Morales, and I had a slow shift. I stepped outside for a moment and introduced him to my dog, Jinji. He is a 4-year-old, purebred Shiba Inu.

 

David’s face lit up. We laughed over whether Jinji could win the (unofficial) “Most Photogenic Campus Dog” award.

As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said… but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

 

 

Storytelling is not just something I do. It is a core part of my leadership practice. It’s how I heal, how I connect, and how I uplift others. Through Instagram, I document the quiet, often unseen moments behind the circulation desk: heartfelt conversations with students, reflections on leadership, favorite books, and moments of gratitude. It is my way of honoring the everyday magic that happens in this space.

 

I have been told that when a 20-year-old sees my videos, they feel less alone, more inspired, and reminded that authenticity is powerful. This is why I create. This is why I share.

 

Most of my videos feature me working, but I deeply believe in the power of collaborative storytelling. Throughout my time, I have collaborated with other departments, students, faculty, and staff to bring these stories to life on camera, through social media, and across platforms. Together, we can show that every role on campus matters. That every dream, big or small, deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

 

I bring not only my heart to this work, but also technical skills in digital storytelling, audience engagement, and brand authenticity. My background in business analytics provides a strong foundation in data-driven communication strategy, while my experience in leadership consulting and academic research enables me to craft narratives that are both soulful and strategic.

 

It is my honor to amplify the voices of our campus community, produce high-impact videos, and build an authentic digital presence.

 

 

I’ve learned more about leadership in this role than I have in any classroom.

 

My deepest gratitude goes to my managers, Summer Arawjo and David Morales, who led with empathy and compassion. To Ash and Kat, thank you for teaching me everything I know about the library world, in addition to Summer and David. And to my summer colleagues, David C., Bella, Andrew, Milo, Asher, Adriana, Connor, Sarah G., Ellie, Hunter, Sofia - you all inspire me! Thank you!

 

To the exceptionally kind souls in Research Services (Rick), Special Collections (Jay Gaidmore and David Molloy), thank you for your kindness. Special thanks to Sarah Thompson (External Relations), whose encouragement led me to share this piece. I am very grateful to work with Bryan, Lauren Su, Natalie, Bonnie, and the exceptional staff from all departments at Swem!

 

Swem has become more than a workplace. A place where leadership is practiced through kindness and where dreams are nurtured in the quiet corners of our campus library.

 

And so, I’ll keep showing up. Keep sharing. Keep dreaming big.

 

Ph.D. Student (Aug 2022 – Present)

Education Policy, Planning & Leadership (EPPL) – Gifted Education

William & Mary, School of Education

 

Public Service Assistant (April 2025 – Present)

William & Mary, Swem Library

 

M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA), Class of 2022

William & Mary, Raymond A. Mason School of Business