Amanda Gorrell

Amanda Gorrell, NVC public service librarian, said when she was looking for a community college library to do her practicum, she first contacted Alamo Colleges – unaware NVC was in her backyard.

“If I had to choose my first 'Wow, this campus is great' moment it would have to be when I got lost looking for the library on the first day of my practicum. I guess I had that 'I need help please' look on my face, because a student walking by stopped to see if I was okay and needed help finding anything. A short time later I was headed in the right direction. NVC has an outstanding community! And then I never left.”

What is your background (are you from San Antonio, where did you grow up)?

I was born in Dallas, Texas but my family moved to Arizona when I was young, so I spent most of my childhood dodging scorpions and surrounded by beautiful saguaro cactus.  I came back to Lake Jackson, Texas (just can’t keep a girl away from Texas can you?) for my high school years and then came to San Antonio in 2001 to attend UTSA.

What is your educational background?

I received my bachelor’s degree in 2005 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, majoring in both Anthropology and History.

I received my Master of Library Science degree in 2011 from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

Where did you work prior to NVC?

After graduating from UTSA, I worked part time as a lab technician I for the Center for Archaeological Research at UTSA. There I worked to archive and document artifacts that came in from the field or were already housed at the warehouse.

As I started my master’s degree program with TWU, I began working as an office administrator with a structural and forensic engineering firm in San Antonio.

What is the best part about working at NVC?

First and foremost the people – I have met so many awesome people at NVC. And second, the lake. I mean come on!  How many people get to say they have a lake at work?

What is the most rewarding part about your job?

I know some students can feel intimidated when confronted with new classes, new coursework, and all the things that come with being a student. It’s exciting but it can be a little overwhelming. Especially when you get your first research assignment!

Working with students to overcome that feeling by showing them how to conduct research, how to use library resources, and seeing them improve their research skills through the semester is the most rewarding part about my job.  

What are your hobbies, interests, favorite activities?

I try to be an outdoorsy person. I like hiking and backpacking and would love to learn how to paddle a kayak without drowning myself.

And I LOVE cooking.  And not just the “let’s microwave some mac and cheese” cooking, but “today I shall make a cake from scratch. Now where is my flour sifter? cooking.”  

What NVC core value (synergy, caring, diversity, learning, joy, openness, community, integrity, creativity) best describes you?

I would have to say the value I most identify with is learning. Learning is not something you pick up while you are in school and then put down and leave when you graduate.  It’s a lifelong skill. 

Do you have a personal motto that you live by or tell your students?

I would say my personal motto would be “most things are worth trying once” and although you may not catch me skydiving from an airplane anytime soon, I would not be opposed to trying my hand at rock climbing or taking a class on how to make sushi.

Sounds kind of cliché, but the idea is when you experience something different – food, music, art, outdoor activities, learning a new language, etc – even once you get an opportunity to meet new people, new places, and new ideas and hopefully learn something new.