Handling up to 300 transactions daily, the Hockaday bookstore is one of the busiest and most welcoming spaces on campus. Behind its smooth operation is Dara Williams, the Bookstore Manager, who ensures it’s fully stocked and ready to meet the needs of students, parents and faculty.
Williams’s work starts long before students arrive on campus, as she spends her summers meticulously planning inventory and coordinating with vendors to ensure the bookstore is ready to serve the community from day one.
“In the summertime, I work with Hockaday’s reps for each of the companies like Nike, Under Armor and Champion,” Williams said. “I work with them to pick different logos and designs for the bookstore merchandise.”
During the school year, a large part of Williams’s role involves collaborating with the community to bring their creative visions to life. Whether that includes a club sweatshirt, sports team merchandise or senior apparel, Williams prioritizes listening to each request, working closely with students, parents and faculty to ensure the final product reflects their vision and school pride.
“A lot of parents, students or teachers will email me and say they need something,” Williams said. “I’ll take the time to sit down with them, look through the tons of catalogs for different designs and help them talk through the process.”
For Williams, no two days are the same, blending routine and spontaneity. With snacks, school supplies and sweatshirts flying off the shelves, Williams juggles countless tasks to keep the bookstore running smoothly. She constantly restocks popular items, tracks orders and organizes new shipments to ensure students can always find their needs.
“Every day seems to be different, which I enjoy,” Williams said. “Usually, a day in the life of the bookstore is focused on restocking, ensuring we have everything ready to go and ordering new stuff that we run out of.”
In addition to managing daily operations, Williams relies on the support of Hockaday parents, who volunteer at the bookstore, working alongside her to keep it running smoothly. She collaborates closely with parents, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued as part of the bookstore team.
“Ms. Dara is so passionate about her job and is always willing to lend a helping hand with the parents volunteering at the bookstore,” Canan Ebert, a Hockaday parent who volunteers at the bookstore during the school year, said. “Although I’m sure her schedule is packed, she is always available whenever we need help.”
The teamwork between Williams and the parent volunteers creates a welcoming atmosphere that invites students. For Williams, having this network of supportive parents makes the job even more rewarding, as she builds relationships with both the volunteers and the students they serve.
“The parents are so helpful,” said Williams. “They allow me to get all my invoices and emails done while they’re in the bookstore ringing people up and restocking the store.”
Many students find William’s friendly smile and open door a refuge from the day’s stresses. It’s not uncommon to see students leaving her office looking brighter and more at ease.
“I always see students come in the bookstore and walk directly to Ms. Dara’s office,” Ebert said. “And without a doubt, they all leave smiling and in a better mood than they came in.”
Beyond the supplies and spirit gear, the bookstore is a welcoming, comforting space for students. Whether it’s a quick hello between classes or a more personal chat, students often stop by the bookstore to connect with Williams, who always provides a friendly face and a listening ear.
“Anytime I’m having a bad day, I can always go talk to Ms. Dara whenever I want, and the bookstore feels like a really comforting space,” junior Maddie Simmons, who worked at the bookstore over the summer, said.
For Williams, the students are the heart of her job. William’s favorite part about working in the bookstore is the constant stream of friendly faces she sees daily that brighten her day just as much as she brightens theirs.
“Even though every day is different, the best part of my day is always when I get to see the girls who come in, and it never fails to make my day a little bit better,” Williams said.
