Ryan Short didn’t expect a campus job to become one of the most meaningful parts of his college experience. But at UTA Libraries, what started as leading Dungeons & Dragons games has grown into something much bigger. Today, Short helps lead creative projects, supports research, and works with students and faculty to bring ideas to life in The Basement, the Libraries’ gaming and innovation space. 

His story highlights the important role student workers play at UTA Libraries. They help students find resources, run programs and workshops and create spaces where people can meet, work and collaborate. Their work supports learning, encourages creativity, and helps students succeed while making the Library a hub for the campus community. 

Short came to UTA after exploring several campuses across the country. Growing up, he lived in China for a time when he was five due to his father’s work. Later, scouting took him across the United States. Those experiences shaped his curiosity and his desire to explore new communities. 

“When I was touring campuses, none of them fully connected with me,” Short said. “But when I visited UTA, it just felt right.” 

He originally planned to pursue a career in the medical field as a biochemistry student, but over time, his interests shifted toward technology and systems design. Today, he is majoring in information systems with a minor in computer science and expects to graduate in spring 2027.

While academics brought him to UTA, it was the Libraries that helped shape his campus experience. Short first joined as a student worker in The Basement, the Libraries’ collaborative gaming, creativity and technology space. His first role was as a Dungeon Master, leading Dungeons & Dragons games for students seeking a creative outlet and a chance to connect with others. 

“That turned into being part of the Tabletop Team and designing my own tabletop role-playing game,” Short said. “We tested it here in The Basement, and people had a lot of fun with it.” 

From there, his involvement expanded. He joined the game design team, began coding video games and worked on the Basement podcast, first as a video editor and later as assistant director. Today, he serves as Research and Game Design Lead, a role that blends creativity, technology and leadership. Short helps students develop research projects, runs workshops, and collaborates with faculty and fellow student workers. 

One of the things Short values most is helping create a space where students feel welcome. 

“The thing that excites me the most is that we are creating a free space to build a community,” Short said. “It can be hard to find places where people can meet others without spending money. Here you can come in, play a board game, talk with someone who likes the same TV show or hang out.” 

Over time, his work has grown from providing a space for students to relax between exams to leading workshops that teach game design, storytelling and creative problem-solving. He has also collaborated with faculty to support classroom learning, prepare computers, and guide students through game design courses. 

“It’s been really fun helping people explore their creativity and enjoy video games differently,” Short said. 

Short’s work has even extended into research. Recently, he and two other Basement team members started a literature analysis for a research paper, gathering sources and mapping out the project. 

“It was an amazing experience to sit down and complete the first step of a research paper,” Short said. 

For Short, his time at the Library has been as much about growth as about creativity. 

“I’ve really gotten to explore what it means to be a leader,” Short said. “From scheduling and organizing meetings to connecting people with the right resources. Sometimes someone asks about something and I can say, ‘I know the perfect person you should talk to.’ That feels really great.” 

Looking ahead, Short hopes to work in game design, creating experiences that bring people together, though he knows the leadership and collaboration skills he has developed could also lead to opportunities in management or other fields. 

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” Short said. “The access to new learning opportunities has been amazing. Every project has been great, and I’ve enjoyed being part of all of them.” 

Stories like Short’s show why student workers are essential to UTA Libraries. Their ideas, energy and dedication keep the Library running, support research and learning and help make it a place where students can connect, create and discover new possibilities together.