Hey, hey, hey. This is Lisa A. And you're listening to Who's That Star? On LCC Connect at Lansing Community College. Who's that Star? Is a behind the scenes show where I sit down and talk with the employees at the college. This is an inside look at LCC where you will have a chance to learn about their passions, projects, what inspires them both at work and in their personal lives. I'm your host, Lisa Alexander. I'm so excited to get a chance to talk to all the people who make LCC great. This show is for you to get to know the people that work at Lansing Community College a little bit more and see what makes them tick. Are you ready? Okay. Let's go see who's today's Star. Today on Who's That Star? Is someone I've known since we attended Lansing Everett High School oh, so many years ago. She's smart, high energy lady that loves and supports the Lansing community. She's involved in many areas at LCC. She currently serves on the Black History Aware and Indigenous People Awareness Multicultural committees. She's an inclusive advocate, wise mentor, and ESP association rep. She was recognized as a member of the Lansing Community College community who has made a meaningful contribution to students and the college as a whole. Are you as excited as I am to learn who today's star is? Drum roll, please. Today's star is Robin Moore. Yay, the applause. Robin, the cloud adores you. Welcome. How are you doing today? And welcome to Who's That Star?

Hello, Lisa. I'm doing good. And thank you for the warm introduction. This is great.

Thank you. As I stated in the intro, I've known Robyn for a lot of years. Robin. Did we meet in Everett or was it Gardner?

Gardner Girl.

I know that's a long, long time ago, but we're not gonna talk about that. Whenever it was. We have maintained our friendship over the years and I'm so glad to introduce you to those in the LCC community who hasn't had the opportunity or the pleasure to meet you. Are you ready to get started?

Yes, Lisa, I'm ready to get started.

All right, Robin, what's your role here at LCC?

Ooh wee. No, I am a circulation specialist. I work in the library. I've been there for a long time and I manage our student employees and I work with our textbook collection and I do. I serve on several committees in our department. So, yeah, yeah. Our building has been renovated, so my job responsibilities have changed, so I'm just adjusting to my new role.

Yeah, that's really interesting, because I didn't know that the way the building structure changed would make your job change.

Yeah, yeah. You know, I used to be on. Well, we're located. Well, we used to have a checkout desk on the second floor, but now it's our help zone. Right. So you remember when my office was on the second floor? Well, now I'm in the. Back in our department suite because we no longer have students working in that space. Right. So we have our part time help zone employees that work in that space now. So my job has changed a lot. I'm not interfacing with our users like I used to, you know, before I was in engaging with all of our students, you know, that came into the library. But it's not like that anymore because I'm back in the department suite, so my job has changed.

Okay. How long have you been in the role as a circulation specialist?

Well, it's just my title changed. I've been. I was. When I first started, it was a. I was a user services supervisor and then we went to access service. Super. Oh, I'm sorry, let me rewind that. It was an access service supervisor. Then my title changed to user services supervisor and now it is a circulation specialist.

Right. And so with the change in your title, some of your duties have changed. Are you enjoying the change that you're doing now?

Yeah, yeah, I do, actually. It's. It's changed a bit. But you know, being on the floor, being frontline. Right. Really engaging with our, Our patrons, our customers, I don't do that as much. And I miss that.

Yeah.

Because I love that, you know, I'm.

And you're good at that.

Well, thank you. But I do, I miss that. I miss that. The interactions. I miss the. Our regulars coming in looking for me. Right. Because I always kept some snacks in my office or just anything they needed, you know, pencil, a folder, whatever, food, you know, I just, I like, I miss being of that service to our. To our patrons, to our customers.

And you know, I believe that because yesterday as I was walking to the car, there was an old student that was parked next to me and she graduated. And I said, hey, how you doing? And she was like, oh, I'm doing okay. I'm about to go to the library. And I said, are you taking classes? She's like, no, I just feel comfortable. I need to think of some things out and I want to come to the library. And I was like, amazed because I was like, wow. We impact our community even when our students leave. And so the library Must be a safe place. You know, it's someplace where she feels comfortable. And I just think that's an attribute to the staff over there and you different people that make people, the students feel comfortable. So I think that's a great job and I'm glad I got an opportunity to tell you that because. And pass that along to your staff. You have a welcoming environment over in the library, and so I think that's great for our students. Plus, there's so much stuff you guys do in the library. Like, there's a lot of roles that go on in the library, so I'm gonna make sure I try to introduce some other people. But what's your favorite part of your job?

Oh, let me think. My favorite part.

Now,.

My favorite part of my job is I have to say this. I had an opportunity to serve as a interim coordinator in the Office of Diversity and inclusion under Dr. Bailey's leadership. And it was an awesome experience. Ever since she came to the college, I've been involved in DEI work. Right. If it's just attending a workshop or being a part of RISE for support staff or signing up to be an inclusion advocate, it's just a passion of mine to make sure that diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded in every space that I come in contact with. Right. So we at the library, we have now a diversity, equity and inclusion team to make sure that our practices, our policies, our services, everything that we do. DEI is embedded in that.

Yes.

And I think that that's. I'm really finding joy serving on that committee. And so because I'm not interacting with this, with our users, you know, like I used to, I really find joy in that. Yeah. And also my supervisor, my. Our leadership allows me to really tap into my gifts and talents. And I love that. You know, there's different. Like there's a couple of programs we got going on now. We've got a pop up mobile library card and we go around the campus. Right. We're piloting it now. But so far we've been in the CCLC Learning or Caesar Chavez Learning center during their Empower hour. And so that's been really nice because I've been able to engage with, you know, students that come into that space. So. And that's part of our DI Team. Right. One of the programs that are one of the programs that came out of our team. So that's been great. Yeah.

Well, yeah. I mean, you can tell the passion.

Yeah.

That you have. And I'm so excited for you. That's one of the things that I do appreciate about LCC is that you do get a chance to explore your talents and gifts if you want to. Right.

If you want to.

If you want to take that opportunity, they'll let you go renegade sometimes and do different stuff that's out of your, like, job title. If you want to experiment, that and, you know, it's not taken away, but it gives you that opportunity. And so I'm really appreciative of that. How long? You said you kind of skimmed by it, but I was wondering how many years actually have you worked on campus?

So it'll be 24 years September. Oh, no, excuse me. August. August.

So 24 years, August.

Yeah. Isn't that heavy? That's deep.

That's a lot. But I mean, I think that's a good place, a good thing that you've been able to stay and work at the same place for 24 years.

Yeah, I thought it was important because when I came to campus, I was transitioning my career. I was in retail. Right. And I was a single mom. So, you know, I, I came back to school because I wanted to go into education. And I was 28 years old and I got a job working in the library.

You were student staff?

I was student staff. And a part time supervisor position came open and my supervisor said, hey, would you be interested in this? You know, I had worked in leadership before. I was management at Target Tarjay, my favorite store. Ooh, they get all my money, everybody. But. So I was, I opened up the Target on Saginaw and I worked there. And I was a. Back then it was called a level two. I worked in electronics. So so I was in leadership at Target. And so when I came back to school at 28, I wanted to go into education. I got a job at, here at the college or in the library because I was on campus and it worked for me. And then I had another job. I was like a telemarketer. So, you know, I had two jobs going to school, single mom. And my supervisor asked me would I be interested in a part time position. And I applied for it and I got it. And so it fit for me because I was a single mom. I was going to school and I never left. It was important to me that I had stability. I think that's important for me. And so. And I needed that and my child needed it. So I stayed and I. And I've worked and I've done. You know, I've always stayed in the library, but I was always able to participate and grow.

Yeah.

And by Having that opportunity to grow, it wasn't a problem staying right.

Because you were still making progress and so you could see it. And that makes a difference.

It made a difference.

I hear you talk about your passion for education. You were going, you came to school for education. Now you have a role outside of LCC that's really heavily involved in education. Can you talk to us a little bit about that?

Yeah. That was crazy. I never would have thought that. Well, yes, I do. Let me rewind. I used to say run for school board. Whenever I got mad at the school district. I was, I should run for school board. But 2020, my father died. My father died during COVID and I cut all my hair off and died. I know, this is crazy, right? Died. I did. I dyed it blonde and I said, I'm running for school board on passion. I just, you know, was just like something. When my father died, something else birthed inside of me and didn't know what I was walking into because I wasn't mad at the school district. I just, you know.

You wanted to help make a difference.

Yeah, but there was times where I would say when I would be upset with the school district and I would say, I'm going to run for school board just to kind of make a change. But this particular time it was just. Huh. And I just went down and signed up to run.

Did you think you would win?

I didn't know, but this is how I know. See, God is good. I'll just say that because it wasn't, it was a seed off open and I basically just walked into it. Dr. Brian Beverly's seat, he didn't, he didn't run. And so it was three seats open and, and two of the, two of our, our board members, you know, they ran and they got their seat and I got the other seat, Dr. Beverly's seat. And so. Yeah.

Well, congratulations. What are some of your goals for that role?

Wow. It's interesting that you. That you said that. We have a six year term and my goal is just to serve for six. I want to make sure that our students and our educators. And when I say educators, I don't mean just our teachers. Anyone that works in education is an educator from the custodian.

Bus driver.

Hello. You better talk about it.

Secretary. Everybody makes it work, right?

Everybody makes it work. So I just want to be able to make sure that there's, that they have what they need, that, that, that the space is inclusive, equitable, accessible.

So you're bringing that work from that you Learned here at L.C. Okay, that's wonderful.

Yeah. Students have, you know, quality education has shown up important, you know, and so I just want to make sure that, that my voice, you know, that I do the best that I can to serve, you know.

Yeah. You know, you, you people talk about it, you being about it, you know what I'm saying? And I think that that's something that's really good. A lot of people want to make changes but don't necessarily take the steps to do that. And making one step, doing one thing can make a difference for a lot of people. And so I commend you on that. I thank you. Because my child's in the Lansing school district, so I know that there's people there that are trying to make sure that it goes in the right direction. Our students get educated and then, you know, it's a good win, win. So I'm glad that you're in that role. I'm happy that you won and I wish you much success.

Thank you.

So based off of you got a six year term.

Yeah.

Do you think you'll run again?

That's a long time. No, no, no. I think that it's important to give others an opportunity. Right, right. You know, no, I'm not gonna run again.

Okay.

Unless God come down and say, you know what, you run it again though. But I'm not gonna run again.

All right. Hey, I respect that you did run and you, and you're working and you're doing the work. So I appreciate that. Well, with that question, where do you see yourself in five years?

Ooh, we. I see myself preparing for retirement from Lansing Community College and starting another career in education. Continuing my, my, my, my career in education. Yeah. If it's working in the district, I really think I might do that. And also I have a vision about starting a non profit which has kind of started a little bit, but it's Robin's nest building futures. I have really have a passion to help out or provide services for our aged out foster youth. And so I've always had the vision and I've. And I've got it written down. It's just fulfilling it.

Right. You will have that time coming up to work on it. And you have such a large array of experience working with youth at different ages. And so I can see your passion and I can see your passion coming to light. So good luck on that. I want to do a couple of fun things before we close it. Okay. I want to ask you, who do you admire most in the world?

Oh, I just told this story During Black History Month. So my mom. My mom. I remember when they asked me this question during Black History Month, I was getting interviewed for the district, and I almost said, a celebrity. I said, hold up. Wait a minute.

Right?

Wait. Wait a minute. My mom. And I'm gonna tell you why.

Okay?

So my mom told me this story. She was in high school, and back then, you know, she was. This was in the 60s. She had a guidance counselor. And so she went to her guidance counselor because she wanted to work, right? So her guidance counselor sent her to this job, to this, like, boarding house, to. To work. So she said. She walked in, and the owner told her, you know, you're going to be, you know, changing, you know, bed sheets and washing and all that. And my mom was like, okay. And so she said. The owner told her, joyce, I want you to go get some bread. You know, we've got some people coming in. So my mom said. She said, okay. So she took the money, went to the store, got the bread, and then went back to school and said, I can't work. And she went to another guidance counselor, and they placed her in the library. She got a job in the library. And she said, robin, I did not stay at that job because I am not going to school to change no bed linen and to wash no sheets. And I love that story because. Oh, I love it so. Because it shows, first of all, her courage. Courage is the greatest virtue. That's why I'm on the school board. It took courage for me to step out, right? It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone. And so during the 60s, she was like, look, my worth is way better than washing some sheets. And, you know, and being a black female. So I love that. So my mom is who I admire because of her courage, her love, her compassion, her kindness. That's just my homie.

Yes, she's my homie. And who better to admire?

Hello.

I love that story, too. I want to ask you. Go green. Go blue.

Girl, we are a house divided. I'm gonna tell you why. So my father, bless his heart, go blue all day long. He would give us, like, the tickets that he. My uncle had season tickets for Mission games. So any games they didn't want, they would give them to, you know, me. And so we. Me and my husband would go to the games or me or I would give him to him, and he would take, you know, our son or his friends. But so. So we were go blue. Go blue. My husband's go blue. My son Kingsley is go blue. Well, my daughter Kanai graduated from Michigan State. Go green. Right. So I was like, hold up. We're house divided. I'm not gonna stay with blue. I'm going green. So let's go green.

So now we got half and half, huh?

Yes.

And Kani used to work here at LCC as well.

Yes, yes.

She was a part of our staff over in student affairs.

Yeah. Yeah.

Star zone.

Star zone.

She did an excellent job and then went to Michigan State. Where is she at now?

Ey. Ernst and Young. She's a corporate recruiter.

Wow.

Yeah. And she's moving to Chicago, and in July. She's. She's cracks me up.

I know. Just. Just making changes. Being grown. Let her do that.

Being courageous.

I know, right? That's exactly it.

Yeah.

Well, Robyn, I'm gonna close it up with my last question.

All right?

And I want to ask you, what do you want your legacy to be at LCC?

I just want. I just want to be remembered as just being a welcoming, kind individual that did whatever she could to make a difference in the community, in the LCC community. You know, I think that's it.

I think that's a great goal, and I think you're already doing that really well. So I want to thank you, Robin, for coming today.

All right.

And I'm glad to have a chance to talk with you and learn about the circulation specialists, the role in the library and your role as a community leader and your passion for life.

Thank you, Lisa. I always like chit chatting with you.

Well, I enjoyed it as well. So we will see you next week on Who's That Star? You've been listening to Who's That Star? I'm Lisa A. and you can listen to this episode of Who's That Star? And other shows from LCC. Connect any time online at LCCconnect.org. Thank you for listening. Catch me next time to find out Who's That Star.