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STAR of the Month Robert Smith, instructional support technician for the Biology Department, brings humor and enthusiasm to his work on campus. Indeed, the two attributes feed off each other. Through his playful, joking manner, Smith both puts people at ease and injects energy into a situation. "I really like it because it's different every day," said Smith. "That's what makes the job interesting. I enjoy dealing with students, faculty and staff. You have to be very people-oriented to work here -- that's the part I really enjoy." Smith provides support for the front counter of the Biology stock room. He provides faculty, staff and students with many of the things they need for classes and labs -- such as audiovisual equipment, chemicals, rubber gloves and pipettes. He also helps maintain the inventory of the stock room, often following up on orders that are late or incorrect. "Robert Smith is an unsung hero who has served SFSU in many ways," said John Hafernik, chair of the Biology Department. "He is committed to helping students and faculty succeed in any way that he can. He is loved and respected throughout the Department of Biology for his hard work and great sense of humor." Smith began his SFSU career more than 25 years ago. After obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in art and a teaching credential from CSU Hayward, he taught first grade and kindergarten, but he soon grew tired of wondering at the end of every school year if funding would be available to hire him back in the fall. He began looking for more stable work and found it on campus in the Registrar's Office. Starting out, one of Smith's main duties was to use his art skills to design and order forms such as grade reports. This was in the days before desktop publishing so he actually sketched out the forms on graph paper. He also worked on special projects for the office, one of his favorites resulting from the budget crisis of the early '90s. Smith helped students who couldn't get into courses on campus find classes at other colleges such as City College of San Francisco. Smith joined the Biology Department eight years ago, and after almost three decades of work on campus is considering retiring soon. He still creates art -- mainly wood carving -- and would like to have more time to work on it. And perhaps return to school for a master's degree in art. A resident of Cloverdale, Smith also enjoys working on his beige '67 Volkswagen Beetle. Please join us in congratulating Robert and thank him for making such a difference. As the STAR of the Month, Smith will enjoy four free lunches on campus, a free parking pass or equivalent in one month's public transportation costs, and more. He will also be eligible for the STAR of the Year award.
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