Student Spotlights

Arjay Romanowski

Liaison Librarian

A poster featuring the person's image and the answer to two profile questions.

Where is home/Where did you grow up?

I grew up in downtown Buffalo, New York, but have family throughout the Rochester area. I now live in Honeoye Falls.

What is your favorite part of working at UR?

UR has an amazing culture of multidisciplinary collaboration. Every time I work with students or faculty I’m always amazed at the scope of their studies. Learning how to help with these broad interests is a welcome challenge!

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

Getting hired by UR, hands-down. The River Campus Library staff is full of incredibly talented people, and I’m honored to be one of them.

What is the most interesting project you've worked on here at DMS?

So far I’m pretty new to the position, so I’ll have to get back to you on that one! I am attached to the DMS capstone class, and there’s a lot of interesting projects in that pipeline.

How long have you been with UR/DMS?

I joined the UR River Campus Libraries in mid-June, 2022.

How has your role evolved over time since you’ve been here?

Since I’ve only started, it’s hard to say just how it’s evolved. As the DMS Liaison Librarian, my job is to support the DMS students, faculty, and staff with library resources and instruction. I have personally come to believe my support extends beyond just being a library point of contact and want to assist the DMS program with programs and events. Stay tuned for one in the near future!

How did you get started in your professional life?

It’s been a long road. I started off with a Master’s in Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University while working full-time as a library assistant at the NSU Oceanographic Library. I found I really liked the job, so my boss and coworker suggested I apply for a library scholarship offered through the university. I was accepted and got my Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation, hands-down. Let me skip those stairs at Carlson, please.

What's one thing people don't know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

In high school I flipped a coin to decide between marine biology and becoming a professional chef. Marine biology won. No regrets there- I don’t think I could handle that kind of kitchen- but I still love to cook, and even have an online menu my family uses to choose their dinner.

What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?

I’m constantly reading, listening to podcasts on the way to work, and playing video games.

  • Book: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.
  • Podcast: Revolutions by Mike Duncan.
  • Video Game(s): Stellaris for when I have the time, Hades for when I want a faster-paced game.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?

A trip to Japan and a hike up Mt. Fuji. I’ve planned the trip out several times, but things just haven’t worked out yet! Fingers crossed I’ll get to in the next few years.