Q: What are the key responsibilities of your role as Director of Information Technology for Schreyer Honors College?

A: I lead the College’s IT team in providing computer support for the College’s staff. Our team provides IT systems for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the college: Student Records System (SRS), First Year Admissions management system including the Alumni Interview system, and our Scholarship Acknowledgement system to name a few.

Q: What drives your interest in information technology, and what parts of your job are the most rewarding?

A: For me, it’s about solving problems and helping people to do their work easier, faster, or better. I like to see the “A-ha” moment when I help someone figure out a new way of doing something or helping them solve a frustrating problem.

Q: You’re a Penn State alumnus with a degree in agricultural engineering and you grew up on a dairy farm in eastern Pa. How would you describe the journey that led you to where you are now?

A: I was active in 4-H clubs growing up and that gave me lifelong connections in Cooperative Extension and the College of Agricultural Sciences. My high school guidance counselor said one day, “You are strong in math and science, and you’ve grown up on a farm, have you ever considered Ag Engineering?” That was the first I had heard about the major. It piqued my interest, so I applied to Penn State and graduated with a BS degree.

My computer interest started in 1982-83 during my last year of college. I worked a part-time job in the state 4-H office programming an Apple IIe computer. That led to full-time work in IT for Cooperative Extension. I was a team member on a $2 million grant to computerize Cooperative Extension. We set up computers, trained staff, and established a statewide network to share research information with the public. Creating solutions to help people has always been interesting and challenging for me through 25 years with the College of Ag Sciences and now 13 years with Schreyer Honors College.

Q: You’ve been on the Honors College staff since 2008. Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Schreyer?

A: Generally, the best memories have been the student interactions and creating technology-enabled solutions for faculty, staff, and students. A proud moment for me came when our team (IT and Admissions) was recognized with an IT Collaboration Award for the admissions system that was first created in 2009 to manage the 4,000+ Honors College applications we receive annually.

Q: Readers might be surprised to learn that even though they never met you, they have likely heard your voice. You serve as the nomenclator, the one who reads the medal recipients’ names, at the Honors College Medals Ceremony. What’s it like for you, participating in such a memorable day for Scholars and their families?

A: I enjoy being part of such a memorable day and take pride in announcing the names. Some of these students are first generation, as I was, and that has extra significance for me. I also think it’s important that the families and guests hear their student’s name pronounced correctly as they cross the stage. Students help with phonetics, and I take extra time to study the names ahead of the ceremony.

Q: Your daughter got married back in May. What was the day, what was the experience like? Also, what song did the two of you dance to?

A: May 14 was a beautiful day all around! The ceremony was at the Arboretum at Penn State—such an excellent venue. My wife, Rosemary, and I are so happy for them.

Carly and I danced to Alan Jackson’s “Always Be My Baby” then Carly surprised me. Near the end of the song the DJ switched to the Pennsylvania Polka so we could dance to that. Polka was a dance that I taught Carly when she was young, and it was something we had fun with over the years. That was a nice surprise!

For those that know me there is often a story or small world connection…in this case a story. My daughter Carly and Jonathan met at a mutual friend’s wedding in August 2018, she caught the bouquet, and he caught the garter and they’ve been together since then. Well, that continues the family tradition, since my wife and I met at my brother’s wedding, we were paired up as bridesmaid and groomsman and have been together for 31 years in June.