The senior from Iowa City is entering his fourth year as a library support associate at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library.
Jiberle Mustefa’s final undergraduate year is underway. In May 2025, he’ll cross the stage at graduation to receive a BBA in management and a certificate in international business. But he’s also on track for another milestone: four years of student employment at the Lichtenberger Engineering Library. For Mustefa, the sight of the finish line has prompted a surge of reflection.
“[The Engineering Library] has been central to my experience as a Hawkeye and my exposure to the community.” Mustefa says. “It has been the primary way that I have built connections, through interactions with people who were first patrons or coworkers and then became friends; it’s been the place on campus that I have spent the most time.”
Mustefa’s time at the Engineering Library has been foundational to his college experience, in part because his employment began right away with a placement through the First Gen Hawks program. The program aims to provide incoming first-generation students with holistic support, and that includes matching interested first-years with campus jobs where they can receive mentorship.
One of Mustefa’s primary mentors at the Engineering Library is his supervisor, James M. Cox, public services and emerging technologies librarian. Cox, who was once a first-generation student himself, has watched Mustefa’s personal and professional development with admiration.
“It has been a true pleasure to witness [Mustefa’s] growth in skills, confidence, and engagement with the university,” says Cox. “His journey exemplifies the benefits of student employment that we strive for, and he epitomizes what it means to be ‘outstanding.’”
Mustefa has plenty of praise for the Engineering Library, too, which he believes is among the university’s friendliest environments. “The full-time staff really make an effort to make the space welcoming, and you can really feel it once you walk through the doors,” he says. “I genuinely feel like it might be one of the most social places on campus.”
Observing the Engineering Library’s operations and assisting the students, faculty, and researchers who form his user base has also been beneficial to his studies. Mustefa has chosen the human resources (HR) track within his major, and he hopes to have a long career in the field.
According to Cox, Mustefa’s “friendly nature and strong work ethic” make him a natural when it comes to interpersonal communication and relationship-building, and his skills have only grown.
“He has encountered nearly every situation at the Service Desk,” Cox says. “These experiences enable him to deliver exceptional customer service to our library users and mentor fellow student employees.”
Mustefa arrived on campus in August 2021 with clear goals: to learn, to open his mind to new people and experiences, and to become part of the Hawkeye community. He now credits his work at the Engineering Library with helping him achieve them.
“I can say with absolute certainty that this position at the Engineering Library was able to do that for me, thanks be to God,” says Mustefa. “I always imagine that in the future, when I look back on my time in college, the Lichtenberger Engineering Library will be the first place my mind goes to.”