IT Leadership Spotlight: Matt Irsik, head, User Support & Computing Services, Marriott Library

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Denver, Colorado, and since my father was in the U.S. Air Force, we moved around quite a bit. I’ve lived in New Jersey, Colorado (twice), New Mexico, Texas, California, and now Utah.

What post-secondary degrees or certifications do you have, in what areas, and from which schools?

I studied architecture at Weber State University and have multiple leadership and management certifications from several corporations that I’ve worked for over the years.

What led you to the University of Utah?

At the time, the Multimedia Center (now Knowledge Commons) was getting popular, and Marriott Library was looking for someone to bring order out of chaos, which is what most of my management jobs have been about. They were looking for someone who could create training programs, establish hiring practices, and manage multiple service operations, which fit me perfectly.

Can you describe the path you took to IT leadership?

I definitely took an unusual route to IT leadership as, at first, my positions with the library involved managing the help desk and support services. Over time, however, the library needed someone to coordinate financial operations, interface with library leadership, and manage multiple IT departments. Fortunately, I had those skills from previous jobs, and they translated well into the position that I hold now.

How would you describe your leadership style and/or philosophy?

I am a firm believer that in any successful operation you have to surround yourself with highly skilled people. That almost all of them can do technical things far beyond anything I can do is precisely what I was aiming for! Having a solid core staff, many of whom have served with me for 10+ years, can get you through any crisis and enable your operations to enjoy tremendous success. My job is to provide resources, direction, and communicate priorities, then get out of the way to let the skilled employees do their work.

What do you enjoy most about your role at the U?

The best part about the job is seeing technology services that your departments have created and supported over the years become highly successful and help tens of thousands of students each year. Our reason to exist at the U is to help students, and that goes into all our decisions.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

Trying to keep all our operations properly funded and staffed is a continual challenge, especially in the face of growing student numbers. The technology needs of students know no limit, so trying to keep systems up to date, adding new software packages, expanding student checkout offerings, and more all bring their own challenges.

What are some of your hobbies?

I run half-marathons, play golf, and read plenty of military history.

Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?

I’m probably one of the biggest Rush fans on campus, having seen them more than a dozen times in concert over the years. Also, I’m a long-suffering Miami Dolphins fan.

Is there anything else that you think our readers would like to know about you?

I think that emerging IT leaders on campus need to know that it’s OK if you aren’t the smartest person in the room or have all the answers. Your job is to make decisions based on what your staff is telling you, and that level of trust is what will see you through any number of challenges.

 

Node 4 Search