The People of build IT

Faculty & Staff

Mariah Finley-Gardner

Lead, Staff

Student Assistants

Haley

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Lily

Major: Economics

Rodrigo

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Master Builders

Seven

Major: Liberal Studies - Elementary Education

Alexis

Major: Multimedia

Caroline

Major: Liberal Studies - Elementary Education

Brandon

Major: Management Information Sciences

Andrew

Major: Mechanical Engineering & Environmental Sciences

Ceanne

Major: International Business

As someone who commutes, build IT has become my home away from home, where I can come and talk with other Master Builders during the day time and have a space after build IT has closed where I can focus on my studies without being distracted by friends/family that are waiting at home. In addition to this, since I did not live in the dorms, this is the first time I have made friendships that are not dependent on a class/major and have lasted consistently throughout semesters. The build IT space fosters a sense of community I have not been able to find in other clubs and I feel like it has helped me flourish and find my place on campus.Master Builder, Mechanical Engineering, '17

Showcase

What we have been creating in build IT

DIYs (Do-It-Yourself)

Like what you see above? We've created tutorials to help you create something similar

Research

Publications

Wong-Welch J, Cripps RM. A collaborative approach to promote use of 3D printing in a biology research laboratory. Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2023;51(6):635–643. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21775
Wong-Welch, J. (2026). From Hate to Love: How My Emergent Journey Made Me a Librarian Who Teaches. In L. Morin & H. McClure (Eds)., Emergent Strategy in Library Instruction: Stories, Reflections, and Imaginings. Litwin Books & Library Juice Press.
Wong-Welch, J., & Casabar, C.J., & White, L,. & Jalal, R., (2019). Students as Lab Leaders: The Role of Master Builders in the build IT Makerspace @ San Diego State University Library. In A.S. Jackson & C. Pierard & S. M. Schadl (Eds.), Scholarship in the Sandbox: Academic Libraries as Laboratories, Forums, and Archives for Student Work (pp. 53-69). ACRL.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017). Master Builders of build IT @San Diego State University Library. In E. Rinto, J. Watts, & R. Mitola (Eds.), Peer-Assisted Learning in Academic Libraries (pg. 121-132). ABC-CLIO.

Invited Keynote

Wong-Welch, J. (2020, May). Everything is Awesome!: Building, Collaborating, and Learning in a Library Makerspace [Keynote]. O 2º Workshop das Bibliotecas de Ensino Superior - Novos espaços e estratégias para a aprendizagem, fluência digital e experimentação, Lisbon, Portugal. https://www.bad.pt/eventos/event/2workshopbesonline/

Conference Presentations

Wong-Welch, J. & Finley-Gardner, M., & Valenzuela, E. (2025, June 3). Make It, Learn It, Share It: Collaborating Through build IT [Conference Session]. CSU Libraries Conference, Fullerton, CA.
Wong-Welch, J. (2020, Aug.). build IT makerspace @SDSU Library: Inspire, Enable, Engage and Connect [Multimedia Presentation]. World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) - International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Dublin, Ireland. (Conference Canceled).
Wong-Welch, J. (2019, April). The Makerspace: A Tool for Information Literacy Instruction [Conference Session]. Association of College and Research Libraries, Cleveland, OH. https://s4.goeshow.com/acrl/national/2019/conference_schedule.cfm
Wong-Welch, J., & Jeffery, K. (2018, Dec). The ROI of Sustaining an Academic Library Makerspace [Conference Session]. NISO Maker Spaces: Things that Go Bop, Whiz and Clank, Webinar. https://www.niso.org/events/2018/12/maker-spaces-things-go-bop-whizz-and-clank
Wong-Welch, J. (2018, May). Lessons from build IT [Conference Session]. CSU Maker Convening, Rohnert Park, CA.
Wong-Welch, J., & Jeffery, K. (2018, April). The ROI of Sustaining an Academic Library Makerspace [Conference Session]. Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) Spring 2018 Membership Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Bunn, M., & Wong-Welch, J. (2017, December). Hosting Affordable STEAM Outreach Events and Summer Camps for Girls [Conference Session]. California STEAM Symposium, San Francisco, CA.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017, November). Implementing Internet of Things at Your Library: Tips and Tricks [Conference Session]. Library Information Technology Association, Denver, CO.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017, September). build IT @SDSU Library: A Reason to have a Makerspace in Academic Library [Poster Presentation]. International Symposium of Academic Makerspaces, Cleveland, OH.
Smith, J., & Wong-Welch, J. (2017, August). Makerspace/Emerging Technologies [Conference Session]. California State Universities Libraries Information Technology / Institution Repository Conference, Chico, CA.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017, June). How to Leverage your Academic Library’s Makerspace to Help Advance Your Local Community [Poster Session]. American Libraries Association Annual, Chicago, IL.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017, April). Making in the Library, or, a Popular Culture Revolution [Conference Session]. Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, San Diego, CA.
Wong-Welch, J. (2017, March). Using 3D Printers to Teach Information Literacy to College Students [Conference Session]. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 2017, Baltimore, MD. http://buildit.sdsu.edu/pub/ACRL2017-wongwelch.pdf
Wong-Welch, J., & Jeffery, K. (2016, June). The Master Builders of an Academic Library Makerspace [Poster Session]. New Media Consortium Summer Conference, Rochester, NY. http://www.nmc.org/2016-nmc-summer-conference-idea-lab/ http://buildit.sdsu.edu/pub/NMC2016.pdf
Smith, J., & Wong-Welch, J. (2016, March). Making and Innovating: Year One at Two Universities [Conference Session]. Computers in Libraries, Washington, DC. http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/220/D203_Wong-Welch(1).pptx
Wong-Welch, J. (2016, February). Build IT for ALL [Conference Session]. Critical Librarianship and Pedagogy Symposium, Tucson, AZ. http://buildit.sdsu.edu/pub/build-it-for-all.pdf
Wong-Welch, J. (2015, September). build IT @SDSU Library, Insights from an Academic Library Student-Run Makerspace [Conference Session]. Fablearn 2015, Stanford University, CA.http://fablearn.stanford.edu/2015/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FL2015-EducatorPanel-Wong-Welch.pdf
Wong-Welch, J., (2015, June). Librarian as Engineering: Being a 3D Printing Mentor [Lightning Talk]. The 122nd Annual Conference and Exposition of the American Society for Engineering Education, Seattle, WA. http://depts.washington.edu/englib/eld/conf/2015/2015 ASEE ELD Lightning Talks.pdf
Wong-Welch, J., & Nielsen, J. (2015, March). 3D Technology in the Academic Library: Informing, Collaborating, and Implementing [Poster Presentation]. Association of College & Research Libraries, Portland, OR.

Press

Rajaee, L. (2016, August 17). Library Makerspaces Enhance Student Learning. CSU Libraries Network. Retrieved from http://libraries.calstate.edu/library-makerspaces/
[SDSUVideo]. (2016, April 8). PLF Promotes Creativity and Innovation. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fWOVMmxq2no
SDSU News Team. (2016, March 2). Young Women of STEM. SDSU NewsCenter. Retrieved from http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx?sid=76055
Schartz, K. (2016, February 5). What Colleges Can Gain By Adding Makerspaces to Their Libraries. KQED MindShift. Retrieved from http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/02/05/what-colleges-can-gain-by-adding-makerspaces-to-its-libraries/
Ballard, J. (2014, Dec 8-10). Workshop teaches students 3-D printing. The Daily Aztec. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/thedailyaztec/docs/da-12-08-2014_issue/2
John, N. (2014, Nov 28). 3-D Printers Add Dimension To The College Experience. KPBS Evening Edition. Retrieved from http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/nov/28/3-d-printers-add-dimension-college-experience/

People