Written by: Sara O’Brien, College of Engineering
Mac or PC? iPhone or Android?
Mac since way back (SE/30), iPhone
Tell us about your role.
I’m the Director of Technology at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD). My team and I support the general computing needs of the SMTD plus classroom AV systems, as well as the more specialized technology in our various studios and performance spaces for music, theatre, and dance, including live streaming of performances.
What do you enjoy most about your job, or what gives you the most satisfaction?
- Seeing and hearing the great work being done by our students and faculty.
- Working with the amazing people on my team and across the excellent group of staff we have at SMTD and U-M.
- Finding solutions by leveraging resources within our unit and in collaboration with colleagues at ITS and other departments.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your work?
There is always more that could be done than our resources allow, so we have to prioritize and compromise.
What roles have you had in IT and at U-M?
I started in the late nineties, and although I have never left SMTD, my role has evolved much over the years as the tech needs of our unit and our team have expanded. When I first started, part of my job was duplicating cassette tapes used for listening assignments in music classes. An early project was converting that system to one in which the music was available online via a QuickTime Streaming Server.
In the many years I have worked in IT at Michigan, I have seen many changes in technology, of course, but also in how we are providing services and support in units vs. centrally. I think we have achieved a good balance now with our local unit team, which is able to provide support directly to our students, faculty, and staff while leveraging the services and resources provided centrally or from outside U-M where appropriate.
What advice or leadership lesson would you offer to others that they could ascribe to their journey?
Ask a lot of questions, then listen carefully. Ask to learn what the students/faculty/staff need, ask your team members and other colleagues for their ideas, and question your assumptions.
Describe the culture you try to create on your team.
Collaborative, positive, helpful.
What is something others would be surprised to learn about you?
I was born and grew up in Japan and lived there through high school.
How did you get into this type of work?
I got into computers and technology by using them as a musician when I was in college and grad school, learning to record performances, using music notation software, creating new music using electronics to extend the capabilities of my trumpet, and eventually performing with custom software on a laptop as my instrument. All the skills I learned troubleshooting music technology issues and finding solutions for my creative work translated into supporting others as they integrated technology into their teaching and performances.
What do you do in your downtime, or what do you do for fun?
I go mountain biking and snowboarding with my two teenage sons.
What motivates you?
- Helping different people and groups communicate with each other and work together.
- Learning new things, whether it’s exploring a new technology or getting up the nerve to take a difficult line on the mountain bike trail, I’m motivated by the challenge of learning new things.
