Spotlight on CASL staff member Steve Spinosa

April 24, 2026

Enjoy the following Q&A with Steve Spinosa, Department Manager in the Department of Natural Sciences

Name:  Stephen Spinosa

Position:  Business Administrator

Time at UM-Dearborn: 4 months

What does a typical workday look like for you? No two days have yet to look the same. Every day has been a little different, which is something I enjoy. The variety keeps the work interesting and has taught me to be adaptable and stay organized.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What I enjoy most about my job is knowing I get to play a small part in supporting the future through students. That’s meaningful to me. I also appreciate that everyone on campus is working hard and juggling a lot, but there are many people who are supportive, collaborative, and understand the workload. That kind of environment makes a big difference.

What was your first job? My first job was at Dairy Queen when I was 16. The owner was very cool and would let us eat as much as we wanted during the occasional slow periods. It was a busy location, so those moments didn’t last long—but whenever they did, I took full advantage of the perk ;)

What do you do to relax? To relax, I love spending time with my family. Whether we’re on a road trip, taking walks, or just being lazy together, it always feels peaceful when we’re all together. I also really enjoy hot yoga. I still play video games from time to time—when I do, I can’t really think about anything else, which makes it a great way to unwind.

If you could have any one skill or talent that you don’t already have, what would it be? I’ve always wanted to play the drums.  When I was in 4^th grade, I went into my music class to “choose my instrument”.  I told the music teacher that I wanted to learn to play the drums, and somehow, I was convinced that I needed to play the cello?!  My music teacher said the school had a good amount of drummers and at that time I was one of the taller students, so I was “meant for the Cello”. My music career didn’t last long :(

What’s the proudest moment of your life? Holding my twin boys Zac & Cooper for the first time!

If we were to create a UM-Dearborn playlist, what song would you want to include? I’m not sure this song would actually make the playlist, but Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock represents what my time at Dearborn has felt like so far, and where I see it going. It starts with a strange, almost overwhelming intro, then settles into a classic, deep funk rhythm. To me, it reflects chaos turning into flow, creativity and collaboration, and something unique becoming cohesive.

I’m also a big music lover, so I’d always be happy to help build a Dearborn playlist.

Where is your favorite place on campus? The Environmental Interpretive Center is top of the list right now.  Can I move my desk to that wildlife observation area? I haven’t been to a public night at the observatory yet, so that may be my favorite soon!

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I played basketball against Kobe Bryant in high school for two years, which is a fun memory to look back on. I’ve always loved the game, and I still play organized basketball to this day.

What quote or slogan do you live by? “Leave it better than you found it.” No matter what you’re doing, make a positive impact.

What’s one thing you wish you had known when you were a teenager? I wish I had known to use birthday money to buy shares of AAPL and forget about it for 30 years. My feet would be in white sand right now