NHHI Hiring Spotlight – Tubyez Cropper

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Tubyez Cropper, and I am a creative storyteller. I was raised by a single mother who instilled the concept of hard work and attentiveness in me and my brother at a very young age. I graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, completed two summer internships, and now find myself in the working world, where I uncover and tell stories from all periods and regions of the world as a job.

Tell us about your job searches.

Throughout college, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue as a career and initially had no intention of returning to New Haven. Because of my diverse interests, I searched for jobs in many fields (film production, digital marketing, and teaching) and in many cities. But it was my connection to New Haven Promise that brought me back home to dive into something new.

What has your experience been like as a Promise Graduate?

As a Promise Scholar, I received helpful advice and support from the entire New Haven Promise team. During my senior year in college, they helped me secure an internship with the Beinecke Library, where I met people from various departments. New Haven Promise frequently spoke with me about my progress, career interest, and life experiences. As things advanced at the library, they continued to reach out for me to participate in NHP alumni events, which I gladly accepted. As my career took off, I had a variety of New Haven Promise scholars reach out to me for tips and advice as they moved forward with their postgraduate careers. The program has done so well with community outreach and relationship building that it feels natural to collaborate with the NHP team and current/past scholars.

Tell us about your current role at Yale.

I have the privilege of being the Community Engagement Program Manager of the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. I began my career as a Communications Social Media Intern, and after about a year, I became the Beinecke’s inaugural New Haven Promise fellow. One year later, I was promoted to a project manager and later grew into the Community Engagement Program Manager. I currently build and manage community events with local schools and history institutions to bring greater awareness to the Beinecke collections. I operate the library’s social media platforms, boost the library’s visual content, collaborate with curators and exhibition prep to create high-quality promotional content for the public, and give tours and lectures across New Haven. I would be remiss if I did not mention my appreciation for Michael Morand, Director of Community Engagement. Since I graduated college and joined the Beinecke team as an intern, Michael sponsored me for opportunities I never imagined one could have at such an age. Our first conversation was over zoom. Our goals and aspirations for uncovering and uplifting history meshed so well, so I made the leap back to New Haven to be a part of that history. Michael put his complete trust in my production and allowed me to explore the resources available to build essential content for the library’s collections. From early management roles to event coordination, Michael has trusted me to build new avenues for greater public engagement with special collections. It was Michael who found a way to keep me on board after my internship was done by creating the library’s first New Haven Promise Fellowship. Without his enthusiastic contributions, I may not even be back in New Haven.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

Seeking your next job can be a bit intimidating. The best advice I can give is to build relationships. They go a long way. You never know what person or people can take your skills and passions to the next level. There are people out there willing to give you the opportunities you deserve, but it does not happen without your own collaborative efforts. Part of building that relationship is also proving that you can be trusted with certain responsibilities. That means that you must build your own brand, one that people can trust. You can build that brand by constantly learning, adjusting, and adding to your craft to the point where colleagues and employers recognize what you can do for them. It always helps to find a sponsor early in your career that can also help guide your development and give you experiences that help you in your profession. Demonstrate why they should trust you as much as you trust yourself. Lastly, remember that first impressions can make or break opportunities.