Everybody loves Marvel – Bob”s cashier setting the bar for customer service

As students pour through the doors of Bob”s Place on weekday mornings, Marvel Harper can be seen behind a small desk, scanning students” Vandal cards for entry.

Most students know her as just Marvel, as her nametag states in all caps. She started working for the University of Idaho nine years ago as a service attendant for Bob”s and since then has made a name for herself as the cashier who knows most everyone”s name.

“I try to greet each and everyone,” Harper said of Bob”s customers.

A native of Mansfield, Washington, Harper attended Whitworth University in Spokane where she majored in home economics.

As well as being a cashier for Bob”s, Harper often takes on jobs ushering for college football games. And when she”s not working to serve people, Harper”s connection to her community branches into her personal life, as she spends her free time attending church and visiting with friends.

“She”s got a quirky personality,” said Steven Tyler, a cook for Bob”s. “She”s always got something to chuckle about.”

Harper said her connection to students at UI has been her favorite part of her job as a cashier – something that has resulted in deeper involvement with the university.

In her time at UI, Harper said she has seen everything from a personal invite to Brazilian Nite from international students to a student asking her to be an escort for the Homecoming Football game – for which she said she was honored. Harper said she also was able to judge cooking competitions in the Living Learning Communities too.

Harper said some freshman have said they looked to her as a grandmotherly figure during their first years away from home. She said she tries to support the students, since many are gone from home.

“She”s really involved with the students,” said Food Service Manager Kathleen Weaver. “I think that she sincerely cares.”

Jordan Wilson, front-of-house supervisor for Bob”s and a UI student, said Harper was the one who got her the job at Bob”s in the first place.

“She learned my name right off the bat,” Wilson said. “And every time I came in after that I was like, “Hi, Marvel.””

Wilson was a freshman at the time. She said she liked Harper”s name, and the two continued to greet each other often as Wilson came to eat at Bob”s. It wasn”t much longer before Harper offered Wilson an application and she has been working at Bob”s for over two years now.

“I adore her, I really do,”    Weaver said of Harper.    “She works harder than most people I know. She”s dedicated. She cares. She”s reliable.”

Taylor Nadauld  can be reached at  [email protected]  or on Twitter  @tnadauldarg

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