More Than a Student Job: Gilberto Cortez Finds Community and Creativity at UTA Libraries

Walk into the basement of the UTA Central Library on the right day, and you might find students gathered around a table, building a story together, laughing with friends and, for a little while, forgetting everything else on their schedules. 
 

Gilberto Cortez helped create that kind of space during his time at UTA Libraries. 

As a former team lead in the Libraries' Basement, Cortez designed tabletop adventures, organized role-playing sessions and helped students take a break from classes, work and the everyday pressures of college. 

 
Now, as Cortez explores the next chapter, those experiences will be extremely valuable. 

"I love my time here, and if I could, I would stay longer," Cortez said. "I would want to stay, but I think it's good for me to have that gap, go try out other jobs and get some more varied experience. I've learned a lot here, and I'm excited to see where I can take that next." 

 
Creating a place to belong 

 
Cortez, a University Studies major with a focus on art, joined the Libraries with a willingness to learn and try new things. 

 
As part of the tabletop team, Cortez designed Dungeons & Dragons adventures and helped run Occasional Odyssey with coworker Ryan Short. The program offered one-shot role-playing sessions where students could join without committing to a long term campaign. 

 
Cortez also worked with another coworker on West Marches; a campaign designed around the unpredictable schedules of college students. Students could come and go without worrying that missing a session meant missing the entire experience. 

 
That flexibility mattered to Cortez, who has often balanced school with multiple jobs. 

 
"Even if you're working 12-hour shifts every day, having that one hour where you can come down here, have fun and de-stress really helps," Cortez said. "I think it gives people a chance just to have a life."  

 
Cortez saw students arrive tired or frustrated and leave energized by the game. 

 
"Once we get that energy pumping in the session, they get really excited," Cortez said. "It seems like they just forget everything, and they just fall into that role of like, I'm having fun, I'm here to have fun in this fun space." 

 
Learning beyond the classroom 

 
Cortez's experience at the Libraries went beyond tabletop gaming. 

 
He worked with the FabLab on 3D printing projects and collaborated with other student workers on a board game project. Those experiences helped him reconnect with his creativity. 

Cortez remembers working with Chloé Bennett in the FabLab alongside Ryan Short and Nico Greene. 

 
"Starting that with her has brought out so much creativity in me," Cortez said. "It just brought back that love that I had for working here." 

 
The libraries gave Cortez access to equipment, technology and spaces to experiment with skills. Cortez also gained experience working with other students and staff. 

Finding his next chapter 

 
Cortez earned his associate degree during the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of his education took place online. Coming to UTA meant returning to in-person classes and meeting people from across the university. 

 
Working at the libraries helped him make that transition. 

 
"My time here at UTA and working for UTA has allowed me to branch out a lot more than I would have expected," Cortez said. 

 
Cortez's career interests are broad. Photography has been an important part of his work since 2019, and he has gained experience in video editing. He has considered education as a career path and expressed a love of teaching. 

 
Cortez recently left his student position at the Libraries to gain experience in a different work environment. Currently working at Game Over Videogames, Cortez is still on the hunt for opportunities that build on his creative experience gained here at the libraries. A long-term goal may even bring him back to UTA full time.  

 
Leaving a lasting impact 

 
Cortez's story offers a glimpse into the many ways student employment can shape a college experience. 

 
The time Cortez spent at the libraries provided opportunities to learn new skills, work on creative projects and consider career paths beyond his coursework. It also gave Cortez a chance to make a difference in the lives of other students. 

 
As Cortez approaches the completion of his bachelor's degree, one thought comes to mind when talking to other students: Keep going. Don't let the bumps in the road keep you from pursuing your dreams.  

"When you have that degree, it will feel wonderful just to say, 'Oh, I got this,'" Cortez said. "I accomplished something." 

 
Student workers arrive as students, learn, contribute, and grow, then move on to their next opportunity. 

 
Cortez's time in the Basement may be over, but the experience will continue to shape what comes next. The games, skills and relationships built along the way will remain part of the story.