The Dudley H. Davis Center is the heart of the University of Vermont, an undeniable fact to any student, staff member, or community member who walks through its doors. In fact, it is the most visited building in the whole state of Vermont! Situated at the top of Main Street, the building consists of multiple food establishments and study spots, making it the perfect area for a student to find refuge throughout their school day.
But the real heart of the Davis Center is arguably the staff of dedicated students who are behind the scenes, making sure things run smoothly and safely.
Production Team member Paige Cohen, Information Desk Assistant Linus Farer, and Building Manager Veronica Guerrero, all in their third year, have loved every second of working at the Davis Center, and speak highly of the strong impact their time on the team has had on their lives. They each mentioned that they didn’t know what they were going into before getting their respective jobs, but that it was the best decision they made in college. The culture and community of each team working for the Davis Center was spoken of in high regard, noting that each member of the team cared about one another, and for the betterment of the building. All three talked about coming into the Davis Center on their time off just so they could see their friends and enjoy the study spaces. Being a part of a team where you feel valued, and where you feel like an adult, was a huge aspect of the working culture for many team members, the three mentioned.
“I’ve found a really great community here,” Cohen said, adding “I feel like I’m friends with so many people who I would have never really met before working here, and I love what I do for my job.”
She went on to say that working for the Production Team has taught her a lot about managing time and effective communication due to the large number of people she talks to in a shift, making it very enjoyable to meet new people.
Guerrero discussed how she was proud of being responsible for the building while on shift as a Building Manager, and she found that this job taught her a lot of valuable and transferable skills that she could use after graduating. Fast problem-solving, communication skills, and working together under a large staff were a few aspects of the job that were mentioned.
“Managing can be a little difficult at times. There are certain situations that are not ideal, and you just have to take a beat and make sure that everyone’s doing okay, even yourself, and they will emphasize that, your bosses will emphasize that.”
Everyone working for the Davis Center has each other's backs, and they all work together to help each other. In some instances, one team will help another because of the common goal of keeping everyone in the building safe and happy.
Farer discussed how he loved learning so much about the campus and about the building just by working on the Information Desk Team. Because the info-desks are the first thing that people see when they walk into the building, the staff learn a lot about little things that people might not know, which makes for a very informed college experience about your own university.
“With working here, I can always walk around the campus and see someone I know. The school feels very different after working here, and you’re a lot more aware of what is happening with the school, with events, and everything”.
No matter the team, working at the Davis Center can be a very fun and rewarding experience, and it might have a way of changing your college experience for the better. Because the workers are students first, class schedules can be accommodated, and the short 3-5 hour shifts make it very easy to fit around your schedule. Being located right on campus can be so great if you’re looking to fit a shift in between classes. Another plus is the downtime that comes with the job, which makes it possible to do schoolwork during your shifts. In most cases, students will spend hours doing work in the Davis Center, so why not get paid?
Paige, Linus, and Veronica all look back on their time working fondly, and they’re looking forward to their senior year working and studying at the Davis Center.
If you’re the type of person who likes to have fun, have a good work-life balance, and want a great resume builder, then working at the Davis Center might be for you. Be a part of our team, and visit go.uvm.edu/dcjobs.
