Meet Our Team - Vanessa Aldaz

Oh! I didn’t see you there – Hi!

I’m Vanessa Aldaz and I’m Dean Pat Hawthorne’s assistant. I’m new to the University Library team, but I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone and learning all about how the CSU library system works.

I started my Cal Poly journey as a student in 2017 but I, like so many, took time off when COVID came around and sent all classes online. In 2021, I jumped at the opportunity to return to this beautiful campus that I loved so much as an Administrative Support Coordinator in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Science for the Philosophy Department. I spent just over a year in CLASS before jumping at another great opportunity - the chance to work with books and book lovers in the CPP University Library.

While I have yet to return to Cal Poly as a student and finish my bachelor’s degree, I do not come to the table empty-handed! I have four associate degrees from Citrus College and over ten years of administrative experience.

Describe yourself in three words

Friend. Partner. Human.

What is your role in the University Library?

While I’m still on the newer side, (and learning more and more about what my position entails all the time) as the assistant to the University Library Dean, I assist Dean Hawthorne with managing her calendar, I manage the reservations for the community spaces and meeting rooms in the library, and I assist with all the recruitment that we’re doing right now. That’s far from all I’ll do as Dean Hawthorne’s assistant but those are probably the main responsibilities I’ve taken over so far.

What is the one thing you want students and faculty to know about the library?

How much care and effort the University Library faculty and staff put in daily to make the library a helpful, safe, and welcoming space for all. They are constantly trying to bring in new improvements, and better resources, and hold events that bring students and faculty together as a community.

What do you like best about working at Cal Poly Pomona?

Hands down, my coworkers. It has been such a privilege to meet and work alongside so many intelligent, passionate, and dedicated people. A close second is driving past the animals on my morning commute – it’s so hard to have a bad morning when you get to see horses and cows first thing!

What is your favorite location on campus? Why?

The library obviously! It’s where the books live!

What are you reading? Or listening to?

I’m usually always reading two books: one as a physical copy and one as an audiobook. Right now, as a physical book, I’ve just started to slowly make my way through a collection of Shirley Jackson’s short stories – I’m not usually a slow reader, but every one of her stories causes me deep emotional damage and I need time to recover before moving on to the next one. As an audiobook, I’m listening to Madly, Deeply which is the posthumous publication of actor Alan Rickman’s journals. I’ve kept a journal for many many years so it’s been very inspiring.

Do you have any hobbies or interests you would like to share?

I literally love sharing my hobbies and interests! I have so many! I love books, live music, live theater, books, plants, karaoke, books, my dog, movies, TV, pins, and... oh yeah! BOOKS!