Working on Campus: Creative & Digital Services
Balancing academics and work can be a challenge, but for students at UIC Creative and Digital Services (CDS), on-campus positions offer valuable hands-on experience that align with career goals. Whether in the areas of marketing, graphic design, web development, photography, video, or print, students are not just gaining skills, they are actively contributing to projects that shape UIC’s creative presence through digital and print mediums. We spoke with several student employees to learn more about their experiences at CDS and how their roles have impacted them.
Student marketing assistants at CDS play a vital role in storytelling and promoting campus events and resources. Each student brings a unique perspective to their work, but they all share a passion for connecting with the UIC community through creative content.
Gizelle Bautista, a student marketing manager, found her role to be the perfect way to stay connected as a commuter. “As a commuter student traveling over three hours daily, I wanted to feel more connected to UIC. This role was the perfect way to do that while also building my skills.”
Christina Hendro, enjoys discovering campus events, capturing footage, and working alongside her team. She recalled the “12 Days of UIC” video was a particularly fun project where she got to brainstorm, film, and record, despite realizing she’s not a singer! Maggie Quezada values creative freedom at CDS. “It’s great seeing your ideas come to life and knowing that they’re going to be heard.” Likewise, Mega Emeje has grown more confident in front of the camera and shares “I’ve improved my time management skills and learned how to accept feedback constructively.”
Indra Greenberg was drawn to the role for its emphasis on collaboration and storytelling. “I wanted to refine my skills in content creation, design, and copywriting while contributing to impactful projects that represent the University’s vision.” She enjoys seeing the tangible impact of their work. For Angelica Favila, the best part of her role is the hands-on experience and collaboration. She enjoyed interacting with students on campus while filming videos, “Going around campus and asking students to be in our videos was a great experience, it was fun to interact with so many different people.”
Student Graphic designers bring UIC’s brand to life by contributing their unique artistic perspective while learning from experienced professionals. Salma Abdelhady is passionate about using her skills to represent UIC in a meaningful way. “I love UIC, and getting to create designs that embrace what it represents for me feels amazing. This role is setting me up for a career as a professional designer.” Stephanie Williams appreciates the flexible work environment and the chance to collaborate with seasoned designers. “Watching how professional designers approach their work has been incredibly valuable.” One of her favorite projects was redesigning the Commuter Appreciation Week poster, where she added her creative touch to make it more vibrant and meaningful.
Aashik Prosper, one of three student front end web developers, tackled rebuilding a broken UIC website with guidance from his supervisor. “This project not only enhanced my technical skills but also taught me the importance of perseverance and mentorship.” Nandini Saha and Nate Herrera value the relaxed yet productive environment, where they have been able to develop her technical and problem-solving skills. Nandini’s experience rebuilding the University Village Maxwell Street website taught her how small design choices significantly impact user experience. Nate emphasized the importance of teamwork in keeping projects organized and successful.
Doriyon Ward, student photographer, applied to CDS to expand his photography skills and has found the experience invaluable. “CDS has taught me to view my passion as a creative outlet rather than just work.” A highlight of his time was photographing SPARK, his first music festival, where he learned important lessons about teamwork, communication, and capturing fleeting moments in a fast-paced environment.
While each team at CDS has a unique focus, a common theme among all students is the sense of community and the opportunity to learn in a supportive environment. Many students reflected on how the friendships they’ve built and the experiences they’ve shared have made their time at CDS truly special. As Salma put it, “I don’t just feel like a student worker, I feel like a professional.”
The student employees of CDS are gaining more than just work experience, they are developing the skills, confidence, and connections that will serve them long after graduation. As with any student position on campus, availability of positions is always changing. UIC students that are interested in working for CDS or other university departments should check Handshake for open positions in their area of interest.