Elly Schmitt
Tell me a little about yourself
I grew up near Ann Arbor, in rural Belleville, and was interested in “making” at a young age. I had many different artistic interests by the time I graduated with a BFA in Art & Design from the University of Michigan. During my time there, I worked jobs in media production at the Digital Media Commons in the Duderstadt Center. I became proficient in video and audio recording in addition to graphic design, which led to a full life of producing media content with clients and friends. I love recording music and performing in groups of my own, and I also enjoy tackling complex projects involving video, graphic design, and web development.
What is your role/position at the Library? What does a typical day look like?
I manage two Design Labs in the Duderstadt Center on north campus, and every day is new and exciting. The labs are great workspaces for students, faculty, and staff in different fields, including electrical engineering, fine art, music technology, entrepreneurship, and more. I work with a great staff of student interns, and we almost never tackle the same question twice. We foster a friendly environment for both one-on-one project consultation and large group work.
If you could pick one Library resource you think more students should engage with, what would it be?
I may be biased, but I would love to see more fresh faces on North Campus! In all seriousness, I think students could engage with most any Library resource in a bigger way. There is a Library expert for nearly everything, and they can help you find information you didn’t even know you were looking for. Our people are the greatest resources we have!
What do you love about the University of Michigan?
I love hearing new ideas every day. Collaborating with students, faculty, and staff on a regular basis has opened my mind. Hearing the different ways that people approach problems has made me better at troubleshooting through the years, and I have the U-M community to thank.