On The Job:
Thomas Green of Academic Technology is probably best known around campus as “Mr. Fix-it.” Whether it’s an overhead projector that’s broken or a professor who needs assistance with equipment, Tom is the first one on the job. “My day starts between 7 and 7:30 in the morning,” said Tom, who along with two student assistants, is in charge of maintaining technology equipment on campus. “I’m the first person to look at a piece of equipment. If I can’t fix it, I put in a service call to someone who can,” he said. “I deal with a lot of troubleshooting and doing repairs.”
As Montclair State continues to grow and acquire more technology, the demand for smooth-running equipment increases. Though the equipment is maintained all year, Tom receives the most phone calls when the students return for the beginning of classes during the fall and spring semesters.
“It’s always busy in the beginning of the semester,” he said. “During the first two weeks I get calls from professors who need assistance using audio or video equipment, or who have equipment that needs repairs right away. I’m also really busy toward the end of the semester, during finals.
Tom’s day doesn’t end at 4:30. He takes graduate classes at night, working toward a master’s degree in communications.
A 1996 MSU alum, Tom began working with Academic Technology during his freshman year. After graduation, he landed a job with WWOR-TV, but returned to Montclair in 1997 to work full time for Academic Technology. “Including the time I worked as an undergrad, I’ve been here eight years,” he said.
In addition to maintenance on campus, Tom also conducts instructional demonstrations for faculty and staff, teaching them how to use new technology. And recently, with the completion of Science Hall, Tom Kept busy checking the equipment to ensure it was working properly when the building opened last month.
“There’s always something new going on, and that makes my job interesting,” said Tom. “I get to work on a college campus with great people and this has always been something I like to do.”