Raquel Costa joined the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies as Administrative Assistant in September 2021. Here she describes the core aspects of her role, along with what drew her to this department in the first place.
“My favourite thing about working at FHIS so far is definitely the people I am working with. It is very exciting to meet so many educated and multi-lingual people.”
I recently completed my Bachelor of Arts here at UBC, so my affinity for our beautiful campus definitely played a role in my desire to work for the university. I have always been proud to study here, and now I’m proud to work here! Since I am Latina and can speak Spanish, I felt this position could provide a unique professional environment where my cultural background could be an asset.
The opportunity to work with some of the professors that I’ve had in the past was one of the many motivating factors behind my application to this department. Although I majored in English literature and minored in psychology, I took several Hispanic Studies courses and a few Italian courses during my undergraduate studies, so I’ve been familiar with the department for a while now. It’s a real privilege to have gotten to know our faculty as a student. We truly have some amazing professors here.
My favourite thing about working at FHIS so far is definitely the people I am working with. It is very exciting to meet so many educated and multi-lingual people. Our staff and faculty are so diverse, and I’m really enjoying getting to know everyone. So far everyone has been so kind and welcoming.
Administrative Assistant Role
“As an Administrative Assistant, I am the first point of contact for faculty and students in the department.”
I respond to all facilities requests, manage room bookings, provide support for event planning in the department, and ensure that common areas are maintained. I also work in close contact with our professors and grad students and ensure that they have everything they need in their workspaces.
Since I started my position right after our department moved into the newly renovated Buchanan Tower, I have also been tackling the unpacking process and have been working on getting our space as comfortable and functional as possible.
Fun Facts
A fun fact about myself is that I’m obsessed with true crime. I find the scientific and psychological methods used to solve crimes super interesting—my favourite shows are Forensic Files and Crime Junkie! On my spare time, I enjoy tending to my plethora of houseplants and I love doing yoga. My husband and I enjoy going on hikes, trying new restaurants, watching anime, and spending time with our friends and family.
