Finalist for UT Award One of LTC's Essential Student Employees April 29, 2013

When College of Education students come with their laptops to the Learning Technology Center’s help desk for UTcreate (previously called Laptop Initiative for Future Educators), they can count on getting the assistance they need from the friendly, knowledgeable help desk team. Besides knowing the laptop hardware and software backwards and forwards, team members also have keen insight into what students’ concerns are and what it’s like to be a student—because they are all students themselves.

Julian Joseph has been the leader of the UTcreate help team student employees for the last three years, and has been a member of the team for five years. His work has been instrumental in fostering the team’s high quality service and he has made many contributions to UTcreate during that time. Julian was recently honored for his work when he was named a top 10 finalist for the University’s 2013 Student Employee of the Year Award. He was also a finalist in 2011. The award recognizes student workers who have shown exceptional reliability, initiative, and professionalism.

It’s easy to see why Julian, an Asian American Studies major, has excelled in his role at the help desk. He enjoys working with students in part because he himself enjoys being one. He has amassed enough credit hours for three majors and has pursued a variety of interests, including building computers, music, technical theater, and live entertainment. And, in particular, he likes the atmosphere of teaching and learning here in the College of Education. Says Julian, “The instructors and students in this college don’t just want you to do something for them, they want to learn how to do it themselves. I enjoy being around the field of education and almost feel like an education student myself.”

Chad Fulton, Julian’s supervisor and coordinator of the LTC’s support for the UTcreate program, says that Julian is such a good employee because he is “both a people person and a technical person. He works well with people yet has great technical skills.” In fact, Julian feels the most challenging aspect of his job is leading the team’s diverse set of personalities, not all of whom are technical majors but are in diverse fields such as communications, design, and business. “I strive to get everyone on the same page when working with students and technical issues, while at the same time taking advantage of each employee’s unique skills.” Team members work on projects that take advantage of their skills while advancing the quality and depth of service at the desk. Julian has, for example, created content for the team’s information screen and recently helped implement new software tools, Do.com and GroupMe, to improve the team’s productivity.

Combining his interests in education and Asian American studies, Julian plans to teach English in Korea after his May graduation. He has already earned an ESL certificate and teaches an ESL class to a group of international students. He would like to work there for a year or two and perhaps teach in North Korea, having developed a deep interest in that country by helping refugees through the UT chapter of the organization Liberty in North Korea.

Both Julian and Chad agree that student workers play a critical role for UTcreate and in the Learning Technology Center. Julian believes, “Student workers have insight into what students like, what technology tools they are using. They can see things from both sides and provide a unique perspective.” Adds Chad, “The student-to-student interaction involved in providing the LTC’s key services is invaluable. It makes students feel comfortable and welcome.”

So congratulations to Julian on his accomplishments and his upcoming graduation. And thanks to all the LTC’s student workers for the great job they do!