Influential Woman · Higher Education Bookstore Management

Kami Morgan

Bookstore Assistant, Navajo Technical University

Crownpoint, NM

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Associate's Degree in Public Administration Degree Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (in progress) Cert Board of Trustees Cert Southwest College Bookstore Association Member Southwest College Bookstore Association

Her Story

About Kami

I've been working as a general manager with Navajo Technical University for about 4 years and 9 months. In my role, I oversee the bookstore completely - I handle the inventory, cash and card transactions, and restocking. I'm the only one here overseeing the bookstore, so I pretty much take care of both the assistant role and the manager role as well. I wear many hats. My typical day involves working with students, staff, faculty, and outside customers, greeting them and making sure they get the gear they need. I'm under the Student Service Department, and I'm very grateful that I have a lot of departments that help me with ideas for items to bring to the bookstore. Without them, I wouldn't be able to branch out a lot more. Right now, we've opened up a second bookstore with one of our sites, so it's slowly coming together. I focus on community engagement, inventory management, and excellent customer service. I also work on my interpersonal communication skills and marketing operations. On the side, I help my sister with her small business on the weekends, helping her branch out her little business where she sells skirts, beadwork like bracelets and earrings, lanyards, and nice little pouches.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kami

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to teamwork. I'm under the Student Service Department, so I'm very grateful that I have a lot of departments that help me with ideas for items to bring to the bookstore. Without them, I wouldn't be able to branch out a lot more. Right now, we've opened up a second bookstore with one of our sites, so it's slowly coming together. Teamwork is the main thing with me, because I don't like to work alone. I like to have other feedback from my colleagues and departments.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. With me, I just make day-to-day progress and go forward with it. Don't second-guess yourself, don't overthink it - just go forward. And if you need advice or help, just ask your coworkers or your supervisor. My supervisor has helped me a lot since I started working here with the university, so don't be afraid to reach out for support.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

A challenge is that we live in a rural area on the reservation. Sometimes we have to travel to get essentials and stuff like that. We do have a local grocery store and everything, but they don't carry all the primary essentials, so we have to go and travel to get those things. When people go into bigger cities or towns, they'll get a month's worth of essentials just for them to last. But I'm working on community engagement and in-store engagement as well to address these challenges and create more opportunities for our community.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Being on top of things is most important to me - knowing that everything's good and going. I focus on my interpersonal communication skills and marketing operations. I also value helping others, which is why I help my sister with her side business on the weekends, helping her branch out her small business where she sells beadwork, bracelets, earrings, lanyards, and pouches.

Keep Exploring