One graduate, five questions, go…
Fatoma Rad '11 (Comparative Humanities)
Collection Development Librarian, Thomas D. Greenley Library, farmingdale state college
How did your education prepare you for what you are doing today?
SUNY Old Westbury gave me skills not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom that helped prepare me professionally. From professors to mentors, they all taught me the importance of accepting my identity and to learn how to honor and empower my individual voice. I am thankful for the individuals who taught me the importance of speaking up for myself and others. I never had to change who I was to be accepted at Old Westbury, rather, I was given a safe space to grow, change, and be confident in who I was that helped me most for when I graduated.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment or recent professional accomplishment to date?
Honestly, there is a lot I am proud of myself professionally. First, it was becoming a special project librarian at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself being in a top tier research institution, but I got there! As much as I loved that job, I wanted a change and I am incredibly proud of my current position - faculty librarian. I get to combine my passions for sharing resources, teaching, mentorship and working in academia. I am able to give to others what Old Westbury gave to me. I never believed that I could be a college graduate, but now I am working in a college! There is something incredibly humbling about that and I am proud of myself for getting here.
What programs do you support at SUNY Old Westbury, and why?
There are numerous parts of Old Westbury that I love and support. I may be incredibly biased, but I love the library -- that library was my home for four years and it was also where I worked throughout "undergrad." There are individuals in that library that I am still in touch with who I now get to call colleagues! The History Department, small, but powerful; the professors in that department allowed me to research my own interests and always offered great insight. And last but not least, CSLI/SGA! The student activities area was one of my favorite places on campus, they gave me the skills that are needed outside the classroom -- throwing and managing events, presenting, hosting, budgeting -- the list is endless!
Do you have advice for current students?
Get involved and reach out to faculty and staff to find a mentor! There is so much that Old Westbury has to offer for students. I can’t emphasize how important it is for you to get involved and find your group of supporters -- classmates, peers, faculty, staff -- they will all help you get the most out of your college experience and these are the connections that will help you learn more about each other and yourself. Do not underestimate the power of getting involved on campus and breaking out of your comfort zone. The campus has a lot to offer, ask around and learn about them. And if you don’t see what you are looking for, see how you can make that change and incorporate or add what you are looking for to the campus.
What is your favorite memory of your time on campus?
That is a tie between the old Women’s Center and the Student Union. Both places provided a sense of safety and comfort for me. I know that between these two places I grew so much and there was nothing better than having a moment to just lie down on a couch with some friends and share everything -- laughs, concerns, hopes, tears, plans- thank goodness those walls can’t talk, but I do love those buildings and Old Westbury as a whole will always have a special place in my heart.
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