Get to know our staff: Roshan Vang

Name: Roshan Vang 

Pronouns: she/her/hers

HSRC job title: Food Pantry Assistant 

Major: Undeclared but taking courses towards Computer Science 

Career Aspirations: I’m still exploring my options but my aspiration is to work as a software engineer within growing companies such as Nike, Google, etc…developing great technical skills and gaining new perspectives of problem solving. I want to make the world an easier place for other individuals through the access of technology in a simpler, more efficient way. Potentially developing a new app in the future!  

Why did you want to work at the HSRC? I wanted to work at the HSRC because I want to get more involved with Oregon State community, providing assistance and resources to others. Being a part of the amazing HSRC team allows me to make a difference for students and the Corvallis community who are seeking any necessary needs. 

What will you be working on this year? Throughout the year, I will be working on organizing the food pantries coming up with ideas, recommendations and improvements in maintaining safety. I aim to make it a welcoming environment with all resources given to the community. I will also be working on SNAP helping others to register. 

What do you like to do in your free time? I love being outdoors, going to the beach, playing volleyball & basketball. Currently, I’m learning how to play the ukulele!

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal? A good ol grilled cheese sandwich made with sourdough bread and a side of warm tomato soup, it’s my favv and it’s so easy to make! 

Do you have any tips for students on saving money? My tip for saving money is just simply asking yourself if it’s a need or a want. Keep a budget for everything and know your limit. 

What is your favorite thing to do in Corvallis? Trying new places to eat, going to the parks and taking pictures with friends. 

What is your favorite spot to relax on campus? The Student Experience Center is a nice spacious space where I like to get most of my studying done and where I like to hang out with friends and let loose. 

Inside the HSRC – Breonna

My major is Liberal Studies, with the theme of Human Rights and Government. Liberal Studies is a program where you can design your own major by creating a plan with 2+ majors in it. I’m currently studying Ethnic Studies, Women Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as Political Science. I bring this up because my major is an intersectional lens on how government systems can affect marginalized communities. The Human Services Resource Center is financially supported through Oregon State University, which is a federally funded institution that works with multiple minority groups, and identities unique to a university like first-generation students. In my major, I learn about textbook definitions of poverty, homelessness, race, gender, sex, sexuality and many other identities. At the Human Services Resource Center, I see these situations actually happen in front of my eyes. They don’t always appear the way classes say they do.

Since working at the HSRC, I’ve noticed that people from all walks of life come in to use the food pantry, the textbook lending program, laundry facilities, or meet with our Basic Needs coordinator. There is no uniform, cookie-cutter description for what food insecurity looks like. My position is the Food Pantry Volunteer Liasion, I work directly with volunteers and train them how to stock the pantry or how to work food pantry days. I work with university organizations to host food drives or bringing in more regular volunteers. I walk clients through the pantry and explain our point system and every time it’s a different experience. I make emergency food boxes for people who come in. The one huge lesson, I’ve really taken away is that struggling materializes in many different ways. It’s not always the people who’d think it is. Often times, especially with college students, food insecurity and houselessness are invisible. It’s sometimes easy to hide that you need help. This has taught me that there is never a wrong time to tell people about the Human Services Resource Center.

P.S. If you’re reading this, November of 2018, we have a surplus of all kinds of squash at Champinefu Lodge. Please come get some free squash.

Get to Know Our Staff: Michelle

 

Name: Michelle Garibay

 Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

HSRC Job Title: HSRC Student Fee Committee  Liaison

 Major/minor:  My major is Kinesiology with an option in Pre-therapy and Allied Health and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship.

Career Aspirations: My end goal is to become a Physical Therapist and work with young athletes and/or kids in order to help them recover from their injuries. 

Why did you want to work at the HSRC? The HSRC is able to provide basic human need to many students including myself. I wanted to be apart of a team that has had such a big impact on students lives. Also, being able to see how each of our resources is  helping student achieve their academic goals reminds me that I am part of a team that is making a difference people’s lives.

What will you be working on this year?I will be the liaison for the HSRC at all of the student fee committee meetings and will also attend all advisor board meetings. Additionally, I will be assisting with the SNAP Ambassador Program.

What do you like to do in your free time? During my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends. I also, enjoy binge watching shows on Netflix.

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal to make? My favorite cheap meal is tuna pasta. You boil the pasta of your choice, once it’s ready you add tuna, pepper, salt, corn, peas, and butter. Tada it’s super easy and yummy.

Do you have any tips for students on how to save money? I use pocket points (an app) to get a Dutch Bros coffee for 2 dollars. Additionally, I try really hard not to purchase food on-campus.

What are your favorite things to do in Corvallis? In Corvallis, there is not a lot of activities to do but, I do like to try new places to eat around town.

What is your favorite spot to relax on campus? I enjoy studying and hanging out at the Student Experience Center (SEC). The SEC is a beautiful building full of colors and natural lighting.

What is your favorite TV show and why? I watch a lot of TV so, I have way too many. However, during the summer my favorite is Big Brother. I’ve been watching it for years now so, feel the obligation to watch it every summer.

Get To Know Our Staff: Linh

Linh, HSRC Intern

Major: Public Health (Health Promotion and Health Behavior)

Career Aspirations

I hope to be able to work with low resource and minority communities to increase access to fresh and healthy food, medical care, and fulfill other basic needs in order to reduce health disparities between social class and race. I truly believe that we as a population can only be as healthy as our weakest components, so I want to be able to help ensure that everyone is provided an equal opportunity to thrive.

 

Why did you want to intern at the HSRC?

My major in Public Health requires an internship, preferably working within an organization relevant to our personal interests and future career goals. The HSRC provides amazing assistance to many students who may be struggling with eating full meals each day, having a safe place to live, having a place to do basic things such as taking a shower or doing laundry, and more! These are the kinds of things that I hope to be able to eventually help other communities access, so that they can live productive and healthy lives without having to worry about these needs that they already deserve simply for being human beings.

 

What will you be working on?

My main project will be focused on the HSRC blog and in curating delicious recipes that can be adapted to use budget friendly ingredients right from our very own Food Pantry.

 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my friends and family when I can, especially taking trips out to the Oregon Coast or up to Portland. I also really enjoy cooking when I have time, mostly because I love to eat! Experimenting with new recipes and new foods is always fun, and I love being able to share my cooking with others.

 

What’s your favorite yummy and cheap meal that you like to make?

It sounds a bit weird but I love to have just white jasmine rice, drizzled with a little bit of soy sauce, and then topped with buttery scrambled eggs and a little bit of pepper. It’s super simple and comforting, and I usually have the ingredients laying around anyway. It’s something that I grew up eating and I could probably eat it any time of the day!

 

What are you favorite things to do in Corvallis?

I like walking around downtown Corvallis and just spending hours wandering through all of the fun shops we have! Plan accordingly though, because most shops in Corvallis close around 5pm. Once in a while, I enjoy eating out in the downtown area. My all time favorite Corvallis restaurant is Koriander, which has amazing Korean fusion food. The Broken Yolk is a must for breakfast, and Benny’s Donuts never disappoints.

 

If you had one wish or chance to use a magic wand, what would you do

Make my student loans ~magically~ disappear (: