1. Why did you choose WMU?
WMU was my first choice. My family has a long history at WMU and I'm fourth-generation Westerner going back to my Great-grandmother. I was very excited when I was accepted to WMU. My Grandfather, Emerson Grossman, was the football co-captain for WMU in 1948. After his passing 4 years ago my Grandmother (also a WMU Alumna) gave me his WMU varsity sweater and the 1948 game football he had received as co-captain when WMU beat CMU 7 - 0. She gave these to me as the last family member to graduate from WMU; I was honored by these family heirlooms and proudly display both of them in my WMU office.
2. How did you choose your course(s) of study?
All of my Bronco family members became teachers, but that was the one tradition I broke. I was always interested in computers—and after researching all the great degrees at WMU I chose the Computer Information Systems major in the Haworth College of Business. It was a great choice for me to blend my enjoyment of computers and programming with a well-rounded business degree.
3. After your undergraduate degree, what did you do and how did your degree from WMU help you?
I had great opportunities with my degree from WMU, I worked for 2 years at Kellogg's in Battle Creek, 8 years at Whirlpool in Benton Harbor, and taught evening computer programming classes as an Adjunct Instructor at Lake Michigan College for 8 years before coming back to WMU. I've programmed websites including whirlpool.com and kitchenaid.com, worked on SAP and Oracle ERP systems, and spent the majority of my career as an IT Project Manager working on national and international IT projects. The great thing about the CIS degree at WMU is that it gave me the experience of programming and most importantly how to lead projects.
4. Why did you decide to come back for a Master’s and what did you study?
The decision to come back to WMU for my Masters was an easy one. I knew after a decade of being in IT, I wanted to find a degree that could diversify my undergrad degree and give me a fresh look at technology in education. Again, I did my research and found that WMU offered a Masters degree in Educational Technology. It was a great fit.
5. What is your current job with the university and why do you love it?
My current job at WMU is a Web Developer for Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM). It has given me a great opportunity to work with multiple areas of the University supporting both SEM and the Provost Office. It is a constantly changing and dynamic work environment with technology and projects that keeps me enthusiastic about the work I do.
6. What are some of the projects you’ve been a part of at WMU that you are most proud?
One of my first projects at WMU was to create the university's first online tuition calculator. It was a very rewarding project putting my years of experience to work programming this first-time endeavor for the university.
A more current project that I've been leading is the WMU Mobile app for Android and iOS devices. I was assigned as the project manager to lead the efforts for the university's first smart phone, iPad, and tablet applications. Back in 2010 we decided to approach our brilliant Computer Science students to work with us on this project. With the help of Dr. Kapenga's senior design class we found 6 talented students to work on our 1.0 version. After a handful of months we had the university's first Android and iOS apps available as a free download on Google play and the Apple app store. The next year, 4 new Computer Science seniors joined us for version 2.0 of the apps. The greatest part about this project is that it was created by WMU students for WMU students. Not a lot of universities can say their students built their official app.
7. Favorite or most interesting memory at WMU?
One memory that sticks out was on a Saturday afternoon trying to explain to a student worker taking parking fees for the football game that I was on campus to go to the computer lab and meet for a class project, not to go to the game. Luckily he eventually believed me, let me park for free, and yes, my project team members and I were the only ones in the computer lab that day (we would have rather been at the game). But at least we could hear the band playing.
Also, I'd have to say walking across the stage at graduation. It was one of the greatest moments for me, knowing that I had achieved such a huge goal in my life.