Departmental Spotlight: The Custodial Staff
A clean, welcoming, and well-maintained campus doesn't happen by itself. Behind it is a team of people who work every day to make sure Franklin's classrooms, offices, residences, and shared spaces are ready for the community.
The Custodial Staff is organised into two teams, each responsible for different areas of campus. Dragica, Luzia and Cristina look after the classrooms and offices at Kaletsch and North Campus, while Fatima, Ligia and Genet take care of the residences and all the spaces at the McNeely Center of Ideas and Imagination. Although their responsibilities and schedules differ, both teams share the same goal: making Franklin a clean, comfortable and welcoming place to study, work and live.
Meet us
What does the team do?
"Our shared responsibility is to keep Franklin's spaces clean, tidy and functional, making sure they are ready to welcome students, faculty and staff."
Dragica, Luzia and Cristina make sure that the classrooms and offices at Kaletsch and North Campus are always clean, organised and ready for the start of each day. You can see them around in the early mornings or evenings, after everyone leaves or before they arrive to start a new day.
Fatima coordinates the work of the team responsible for all the residences and the McNeely Center of Ideas and Imagination. Together with Ligia and Genet, who joined the team in the summer, the team handles regular cleaning, deep cleaning in the residences, and the preparation of spaces for events at the P. Gregory Warden Student Center or at the Donors' Gallery. Fatima also steps in whenever urgent needs arise, or additional maintenance support is required.
What is the team's mission?
"Our mission is to provide a clean, safe, welcoming, and pleasant environment for the entire Franklin community. We want every space to be presentable, comfortable, and ready to be used."
Get to know us
What keeps you up at night, and what gets you out of bed in the morning?
For Dragica, Luzia and Cristina, who have many spaces to look after within limited working hours, one of the main challenges is managing all their tasks while maintaining high standards of cleanliness and attention to detail. What makes it rewarding, however, is the satisfaction of seeing everything taken care of. “What motivates me is seeing the spaces clean and in order, knowing I've done a good job and that my work helps others feel comfortable. Even if it isn't always visible, I know it makes a difference.” — Dragica, former Britt-Marie Muzi Staff Award recipient.
For Fatima and her team, the busiest and most stressful period is the summer, when student groups come and go and several teams, including maintenance staff and external cleaning companies, work in the same spaces. Coordinating everyone's schedules is particularly challenging, as they need to be the last ones to enter the residences before students and families arrive, making sure everything is ready. “What keeps me up at night? Thinking about all the tasks I have to complete the following day. Then I come here, and there is always something new to add to the list!” - Ligia
“But what makes it all worthwhile is the students,”- Fatima.
Over the years, they have grown attached to them and often feel protective of them, almost as if they were their own children. When a student is going through a difficult time, they feel for them and their families and try to offer support, especially when family members aren't nearby. For Fatima and Ligia, who have both worked at Franklin for 21 years and have children around the same age as our students, these situations have become particularly meaningful.
The strong bond within the team is another rewarding part of their daily work. They enjoy working together, sharing a chat and having a laugh along the way. “We have fun together. But don't ask us in the summer!” - Ligia
What's something colleagues from other departments might not know about your work?
A lot of organisation and planning goes into keeping Franklin's spaces in order. Both teams need to manage their time carefully, look after different areas and pay attention to the smallest details.
For Fatima and her colleagues, this also means coordinating with several people and external teams. As the team responsible for the residences, they need to carefully plan and manage access, as various people are involved in maintenance and other activities within the buildings. This requires close coordination to ensure that everything is checked and ready before students and their families return to campus. Their responsibilities also extend beyond cleaning to include some aspects of building maintenance at the new building, such as lighting and air conditioning.
Work with us
What can colleagues come to you for?
Colleagues can contact the Custodial Staff to report cleaning issues, flag areas that need extra attention, or communicate specific needs.
For events held at the McNeely Center of Ideas and Imagination, Fatima, Ligia and Genet also help prepare and arrange the spaces, adapting the setup to the organisers' requirements. Their work goes beyond cleaning: they help make sure the spaces are ready for the activities taking place there.
Where can colleagues find you?
Dragica, Cristina, and Luzia work Monday to Friday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., looking after Kaletsch and North Campus.
Fatima, Ligia, and Genet work during the day and are usually around the McNeely Center of Ideas and Imagination and the residences. You may find them in different areas of campus throughout the day, as they are frequently moving between buildings.
Franklin in one word
Care
I'd choose the word "care" because our work isn't just about cleaning. It's also about looking after the spaces where people study, work, and spend an important part of their day. A clean and tidy environment helps everyone feel welcome and comfortable. For me, care is a practical way to contribute to the Franklin community every day. - Dragica
Essential
Some people say we are the foundations or pillars of a house, without which nothing can stand. I see us as the beams that support everything. Without us, the whole structure would not stand. - Fatima, Ligia, Genet