Staff Profile: Adam Mendez

Groundskeeper Adam Mendez has been at Harvey Mudd since 2005, maintaining and beautifying the campus grounds. His favorite part of his job is the pride he takes in knowing that the grounds and landscaping are a visitor’s first impression of the College. He also enjoys having his own cart. Find out more about Mendez, including what he’s reading, what new skill he’s learning and what he does for fun in this Q-and-A.

What is something people don’t understand about your job that you wish they did?

If it looks like hard work, that’s because it is. However, the work can also be therapeutic at times. It feels rewarding to prune a rose or pressure wash a stairwell and know that the campus is better for it.

If you could swap jobs with any other HMC employee for a day, who would it be and why?

I would switch with Assistant Manager of Communications and Marketing Dominic Indolino. He wants to switch with a landscaper, and I love taking pictures.

If you could add anything to campus to improve the employee experience, what would it be?

Ice cream bar at the dining hall, please.

What’s your favorite food/dish in the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Hall?

Tacos on Tuesdays.

What HMC events have made you feel really connected to other HMC colleagues?

I have really enjoyed the Service Awards. It’s the only time we all get to see each other and celebrate one another.

What is your favorite hobby, activity or creative outlet?

I enjoy taking photos. I used to walk around L.A. and take photos of architecture. Spending time with my wife and kids takes up most of my time now. I recently gave my five-year-old son his first camera. Now, he can take photos with his sister and I at the park.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you, either in life or at work?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” An English teacher hit me with that quote from Oscar Wilde. It has always stayed with me.

What is your most effective strategy for dealing with stress?

I have a polished hematite sphere. They are believed to ground and stabilize energy. I have no idea if it actually does anything, but it does calm me whenever I hold it. It was a gift from my daughter.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it at work?

I would love to be able to read someone’s mind. I could immediately know what someone is struggling with and how I can help.

Are you studying or learning something new?

My daughter is currently trying to teach me to play piano. Her failure is not a reflection on her teaching.

What book or podcast are you enjoying right now?

I reread The Odyssey before I watched the movie on a 70mm IMAX screen.

What’s a fun fact about you?

The funnest fact about me might be that my son and I share a love for everything dinosaur. He just upgraded to a twin-sized bed with dinosaur-themed bedding that matches what I had growing up.