UTA Libraries Staff Spotlight: Ralph Castro

Ralph Castro views each day as a gift, sharing the joy he has with each person he meets as a member of the UTA Libraries' Library Systems and Technology Department. This way of viewing life is inked onto Ralph's arm as a "second life day" tattoo. He got the tattoo in the Army as a reminder that life is precious.  

Ralph served for eight years, 18 of those months deployed to Iraq, serving in an infantry unit. During those tragic and tough moments, he forged a new philosophy on life. One significant moment came after a close call with a rocket attack while on base. 

He told himself that he would no longer worry about events out of his control and live each moment as it happens. Choosing happiness, Ralph calls that defining moment his "second life day."  

Ralph's journey to UTA started long before he was a staff member. Working at Best Buy, he was able to attend community college through the company's tuition assistance program, taking a course a semester. After about nine years, he transferred his credits to UTA, graduating with his bachelor's in philosophy.  

He worked at the front desk at the Central Library before an opening came up in LST, where he currently serves as a technology support specialist.  

"I did computer science in community college. It is just something that I was good at," he said. "Even when I was in Iraq, I ran the secure and unsecured networks over there just because they knew that I was good with computers. When you are over there, there are no computer repair shops. You just hope that someone can fix it."  

Ralph wears many hats in this role, but he quickly points out that everyone in LST does. From supervising students to providing desktop support to hardware repair and answering help tickets, the job gives Ralph new challenges daily that he takes head-on with a smile.  

His goal parallels LST's mission, which is to foster a positive customer service atmosphere on each request for assistance.  

"I just feel like you can't make a second first impression. So, whenever we deploy a staff member's computer, we make an appointment. We are there when they show up. We log them in and talk to them. That is the kind of environment we want to foster," Ralph said. "I don't want to come to work and have a bad time. I don't think that anyone does. Why would I be a part of that negative experience? So, I am not."  

One of Ralph's interests and passions outside the world of technology is collecting shoes. 

"When I was young, I wanted nicer shoes and I never got to get them for myself. So, when I got older, I wanted one specific shoe. I grew up in Chicago and Scott Pippen was my favorite, not Michael Jordan," Ralph said. "Pippen had a shoe called the Air Uptempo, a big black Shoe with the word "Air" outlined in white. When I got old enough, I bought them for myself. I don't wear a lot of bright colors in clothing, but sometimes, if you see my shoes, I wear very, very bright shoes. A lot of colors. My game room is for shoes and my computer and that's it." 

Ralph, we are proud of the daily contributions that you make here at UTA Libraries. You strengthen our team, and we are honored to have you here. Keep up the excellent work.