As a Support Staff member with the Arts Service Centre Student team, Nikki Roussos helps faculty, staff, and students navigate the complexities of Workday systems with patience, precision, and warmth. In this interview, Nikki shares how their experience at the Vancouver Crisis Centre shaped their approach to empathetic problem-solving, why Arts feels like home, and how embracing their many sides—both serious and playful—helps them “contain multitudes.”
Pronouns: They/Them
Title: Support Staff
Department/Unit: Arts Service Centre Student
Describe what you do at UBC in 15 words or less: I support faculty, staff, and students within the Faculty of Arts to successfully navigate Workday systems.
Tell us a bit about yourself. When did you join the team, and what drew you to this role?
I joined the Arts Service Centre Student in June 2023. I’d been away from UBC for a while during the pandemic, but I knew I wanted to come back to campus. I also knew about the Workday Student change on the horizon, it seemed like an exciting, if challenging, time to return. This office felt like a hub of change, and I was intrigued to be part of it.
What do you enjoy most about working here?
I really love working in Arts—that’s always been important to me. There are lots of roles across UBC, but Arts feels like home. I’ve stayed because of the people. Everyone here is approachable, collaborative, and genuinely invested in problem solving. The balance of technical systems and humanities makes it a unique place to work.
What past work are you most proud of?
Before joining Arts Service Centre Student, I worked as Operations Manager at the Vancouver Crisis Centre. It was a very rewarding and challenging role. During my time there, I helped guide the organization through a major technological shift to a new platform. That experience prepared me for this role, where system transitions are a big part of the work.
How would your friends describe you?
They’d probably say I’m honest, a mix of fun-loving and serious. I can be very earnest and intense, but I’m also goofy and childlike at times. I think “containing multitudes” fits me pretty well.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
There’s a chance I’ll still be at UBC—I’ve been here off and on since I was 17, and Arts has always felt like the right fit. I could also see myself working in equity or inclusion-focused offices.
Another possibility is pursuing a Master’s in Counselling, something that’s been in the back of my mind for a long time. My hope is to be practicing and serving the community directly. Even if I go that route, it could still lead me back to UBC in a different capacity.
Messages of Gratitude from their colleagues
“I wanted to highlight the passion that Nikki Roussos has brought to the table for Arts Service Centre Student. They bring such fresh ideas to our meetings and always offer their help to other team members in need.”
“Nikki is a deeply compassionate person who has made an incredibly meaningful impact on the Arts Service Centre Student team. Their ability to offer empathetic support, view situations from unique perspectives, and adapt to new challenges has been so valuable. Nikki is someone I continue to learn from and I’m very grateful to have their genuine, warm, and thoughtful presence on our team. We are lucky to have them!”
Nikki Roussos (far left) with colleagues during Jump Start at UBC.
