Get Help from Fellow Wildcats: Meet the Digital Makerspace Team

Ever wondered who’s behind the support at the Digital Makerspaces? From helping you record your first podcast to showing you how to use a camera, the student staff at U of A’s Makerspaces are here to make sure every Wildcat feels confident exploring digital media.

The team of about 10 undergraduate students work across three Makerspaces on campus: the Honors Village Digital Makerspace, the School of Journalism (SOJ) Digital Makerspace and the Lundgren Consumer Sciences Lab. Each location has its own tools and specialties, and the staff rotate between them, bringing their skills and experience to help students at every space.

The student staff aren’t just multimedia experts – they’re peers who understand what it’s like to learn something new, experiment with equipment, or tackle a project for the first time. Whether you’re just getting started with a class project, trying out video editing software, or curious about photogrammetry and VR tools, these students provide hands-on guidance. They can answer quick questions, help set up your workspace, or walk you step by step through more complex projects.

U of A alumna and recent DMS student employee Abril Aguirre-Miranda began working at the Digital Makerspaces because it complemented her film major. She says the experience was especially rewarding because students had access to resources they might not otherwise encounter, from podcast studios and professional equipment to photogrammetry technology.

"I've seen users come in with lots of questions and no experience, then become experts and frequent users," Aguirre-Miranda says. "My coworkers take the time to teach and help others because we genuinely care about making sure people get the most out of our resources."

As a student-run space, she says the staff understood the value of the equipment and treated every user with the same respect they would want for themselves. "I might be biased," she adds, "but I believe we're one of the most helpful resources on campus, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of what the Digital Makerspaces offer."

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Rebecca Ursule, a recent U of A graduate who frequently uses the SOJ podcast studio for her UAZ podcast, says the Makerspaces have helped her with both personal and club projects. “The studio is a calm, creative, and well-equipped environment that’s perfect for recording and bringing ideas to life,” she explains. “The staff are always approachable and ready to help, which makes it easy to focus on creating.”

Al’Tinah Charelle Bell, a junior and student worker in Architecture, says she wanted to work at the Digital Makerspaces because she enjoys helping people with Adobe Creative products and it’s useful for her future. “The most rewarding part is connecting with students over shared interests and seeing them succeed,” she explains. “The Makerspaces are valuable because many students can’t afford their own technology, so providing access to these tools and a space to learn and create is really important.”

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, experiment, and explore. Whether it’s your first time using a microphone or you want to try creating a virtual reality project, the student staff at the Digital Makerspaces are here to help you every step of the way. Stop by any Digital Makerspace, meet the team, and see how they can help bring your ideas to life.

Follow the Digital Makerspaces on Instagram for creative inspiration, behind-the-scenes content, helpful tips, and new ways to explore the tools and resources available across our spaces.