Vanessa Maxwell sparkles — but it’s not just from her bubbly personality. The longtime UM-Dearborn custodian also puts some shine into the world through her diamond-studded sunglasses, bold jewelry, custom shoes and gem-encrusted hats.
“Nearly every day I wear my blue plain uniform. It’s a little underwhelming for my liking,” says Vanessa, who worked as a beautician before her career at U-M. “I like colors. I like putting a smile on people’s faces. It’s a reminder that there always can be bright spots in our every day.”
After 38 years on campus — including five spent as a temporary worker pushing through 40-hour weeks for around $5 an hour before being hired as permanent staff — she is hanging up her keys. Maxwell, the last of UM-Dearborn’s original full-time custodial team, retired this month.
Raised in Detroit, her journey to the university began almost by chance. Her childhood best friend, Vivian Mack, got a job as the first afternoon-shift custodian on campus. A few months later, Mack pulled Maxwell in.
“She knew how detail-focused I am when it comes to cleaning. I’ve been that way my whole life. When I’d get home from half days of school when I was little, my mom would put me to work. She didn’t believe in half days,” Maxwell says. “We’d scrub that house until it shined. I never minded. I was proud of what I accomplished.”
Her bright presence is known around campus. She’s recognized not just for what she does, but for who she is. Maxwell watered office plants for people when they were out of the office. She bought textbooks for a student. She tracked down the owner of a lost family heirloom. And when students and employees earn degrees, she likes to be near the graduation stage, ready to give a hug as a congratulations. “I’m here after hours. I know who stays and how hard they are working to improve themselves,” she says. “It’s my way of saying, ‘I see you and I’m proud of you.’”
As Maxwell heads into retirement, she reflects on what kept her grounded over the years and offers a few pieces of advice.
Treat people how you want to be treated
Maxwell's responsibilities may include vacuuming, trash removal and bathroom cleaning, but she sees adding joy to her workplace as an essential task too.
"I treat people how I want to be treated," she says, reflecting on her decades on campus. "I get that it’s hard because sometimes you don’t get back what you put out. But the important thing is that at the end of the day, you know. And God knows.”
She organized birthday celebrations for co-workers, helped her fellow custodians navigate contracts and always stopped into offices to say hello. She recalls seeing a student crying in a hallway. Maxwell sat down next to the student and had a conversation. “She told me that she was $40 short of getting her course materials and she was worried she wouldn’t have what she needed to graduate,” says Maxwell, who subsequently purchased the materials herself. “I’ve been there. We’ve all been there in one way or another. If I can do an act of kindness to help make someone’s life a little better, I’ll do it.”
Give the benefit of the doubt — but know that it’s also OK to speak up
As much as Maxwell cares for others, she also understands the necessity of boundaries. She says petty conflicts — at work or at home — can easily burn a person out. So she leaves the drama at the door.
Maxwell says she’s learned how to do that from her longtime boss, Kevin Headrick, manager of Building Services. “Anyone can get sucked into stress and conflict. Kevin is great at reminding us to look at alternative scenarios before having a reaction,” she says. “I use this in all areas of my life. Before I get hot, I tell myself, ‘Maybe this situation is not really what you think it is.’ It’s important to get as much information as you can before you act. You never know what someone else is going through.”
But there have also been times when Maxwell has needed to speak up. In the early 1990s, she encountered a staff member who treated her in a racially discriminatory manner. When it became apparent that Maxwell wasn’t going to be able to handle the situation on her own, she talked with leadership.
“People often looked the other way when it came to discrimination, especially in the 1990s. I don’t want to get into details, but when I was treated unfairly at work, Chancellor James Renick heard about what happened and asked what I’d like done to correct it,” she says. “I didn’t want anyone to lose their job, but I did want an apology and to be respected.” Renick served as UM-Dearborn’s chancellor from 1993 to 1999.
The next time Maxwell saw that person, she got an apology. “I did wonder about the sincerity of it, but I appreciated that leadership stepped up to make it happen,” she says. “That was a win in my book.”
Reflecting on her journey, Maxwell says it’s important to extend grace — but in a way where you are still advocating for yourself when necessary.
“There’s power in forgiveness and giving grace. So remind yourself to take a deep breath before responding. It’s not just for them — it’s also to protect your own health and peace of mind,” she says. “Compassion isn’t a weakness. It’s a strategy for long-term survival and mental stability.”
Have a sense of humor
When Maxwell decided on her official retirement date, she chose Sept. 11. She says people were surprised at first because of the association Sept. 11 has with a national day of remembrance. But Maxwell explains she chose it for a different reason — one that is in line with her signature sense of humor.
"It’s more like a 9-1-1 emergency because my body says I need to get the heck out of here," she laughs. “I’m in my 60s. I take pride in leaving things better than I found them. I’m at the point where I realized I need to do that for myself too.”
But she says slowing down doesn’t mean stopping. For example, when an ankle break meant Maxwell could no longer wear her favorite six-inch-high heels, she adapted by buying high-heel-shaped diamond earrings. "I can't do it anymore. Lord knows that I’ve tried," she says of the tall heels. "So I'm like, well, I could wear them on my ears. I can pretend."
As Maxwell steps away from the daily routine to enjoy her peace, quiet and extensive collection of sparkling accessories, the halls she cleaned will be a little less colorful. But the lessons she leaves behind — rooted in kindness, patience and respect — will continue to inspire the people who had the privilege of working at UM-Dearborn alongside her.
Story by Sarah Tuxbury
