We're not in the ER saving lives in the grand scheme of things, but it’s demanding, and there is a lot of pressure. Being able to joke around and laugh with someone really helps.

Mike Huang
Project Manager, Campus Life Services 

I spend more time here than I do at home. I think it's important to feel connected to people.

Yolanda (Yolie) Marquez
Administrative Officer, Campus Life Service

Yolie and Mike: Best Friends at Work 

Tell us about your role. 

Mike: We wear a lot of hats. We are part of an administrative shared-services model within Campus Life Services. We have accounts payable and finance support. I support programs and services, that’s Family Services, Fitness and Recreation, Documents and Media, Conference Services, Arts and Events, and Retail. We used to be more transaction-based on a ticket system, but now our work includes more projects. Last year, I became the CLS space coordinator, helping manage moves across all our departments and other UCSF units. 

‌Yolie: I mainly support Family Services, Arts and Events, Fitness and Recreation, and sometimes Housing. At the Child Care Centers, I create profiles for parents and manage door access. For Sustainability, I help with calendaring and logistics. Each department has unique needs. ‌

What do you think about having best friends at work, one of the questions on the annual staff engagement survey?

Mike: It wasn’t intentional to find a best friend at work. With Yolie, our personalities complement each other. We're not in the ER saving lives in the grand scheme of things, but our roles are demanding, and there is a lot of pressure. Being able to joke around and laugh with someone really helps. I know I can lean on her, and vice versa. We can think in the same way without ever having to communicate.

‌Yolie: I spend more time here than I do at home. I think it's important to feel connected to people. Maybe that’s one person, maybe more. You need people you trust at work. I connect through food, too. I’m always bringing food to share, like a good cheesecake or a charcuterie board.‌

FAVORITE COOKIE JAR TREAT 

Yolie: Cheesecake
Mike: Chocolate chip cookie or chocolate croissant

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