IT Leadership Spotlight: Jim Logue, IT manager, College of Education

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Montana and raised in Wyoming.

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

I studied music at Casper College in Wyoming and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. I eventually received a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies here at the U! I also have an MBA in information technology from Western Governors University.

What led you to the University of Utah?

When I was a music student at the U, my only marketable skill was master book shelver, and I worked at the James E. Faust Law Library. I later took on full-time positions at the library and eventually became its first computer specialist — moving from WordPerfect to Word, developing the first library website, and getting a Novell certification (yes, I’m severely dating myself). I then worked a few years in the Bay Area for an ad agency as its network administrator, then for the University of Wyoming, Casper, as a computer support specialist for 13 years. I was ready to move up to a management position, and the position at the U’s College of Education seemed a perfect fit — both of my parents and my sister are educators, so it was near and dear to my heart — and fortunately, I got the gig!

Can you describe the path you took to IT leadership?

At the University of Wyoming, I had the privilege of serving on its Staff Council for several years, culminating as its president, and was exposed to myriad leadership roles, from university governance to legislative and executive government. I saw great leaders and bad ones, and I decided pursuing an MBA would help me attempt to be at least a decent one.

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

Listen more, speak less. Mistakes are fine if you learn from them. Expect them. Keep communications in plain English. Shoot for a bigger budget.

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

I think the mission of the College of Education is key to all that ails the world, and I very much enjoy being a part of the college and feeling the energy that our students, faculty, and staff bring to that effort.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

The toughest thing now, other than growing cyberthreats and AI bluster, is reading in the press of massive university expansion projects and at the same time, the need for staff contraction. Staff morale is low, and I wish I could do more to counter that.

What are some of your hobbies?

I’m a foodie and vegetable gardener. I love travel and visiting baseball venues. I used to run marathons and am attempting to get back at that, though with age and little time to train, I’m looking at half-marathons! I enjoy exploring obscure Spotify playlists and making musical discoveries.

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

I have a 1,471-day streak in Duolingo! (And counting!)

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

While I worked in Wyoming, I had a side hustle as a personal chef.

 

Node 4 Search