October 27, 2023

I wanted to meet some of the staff members of CEISMC and EXCEL. So, I found six people I interviewed and they told me about their reflections on working at Georgia Tech.

“I’m the first person you will be greeted by when you enter the building where EXCEL and CEISMC are located. I help visitors by giving them directions to where they need to go in the building. I also answer the main office phone for CEISMC and assist with any questions. I also take care of reservations for CEISMC/EXCEL staff to use the meeting rooms, the golf CART and guest parking. I also do HR work where I handle background checks and direct hiring and termination processes of student assistants. For the last three years, I have liked working at Georgia Tech not only for the diversity, but also I love how supportive the community is, specifically at CEISMC.”

-Keyana Johnson, Admin Professional III, CEISMC

“I design branding for curriculum that CEISMC groups might need for posters and flyers, and I edit pictures for the EXCEL and CEISMC website. I have officially worked for Georgia Tech for ten months, but I started as a full time Tech Temp. I like how the community is nice and helpful. The work environment is also nice, and you have the flexibility to work in the office or at home when needed.”

-Naya Nkosi, Graphic Designer, CEISMC

“My duties typically pertain to troubleshooting devices such as Macs, PCs, and printers. Sometimes we perform rudimentary networking tasks, anything that has to do with computer problems or computer setup. I also manage our student workers, and I understand that is important that their mental health needs have been met in order for them to be successful in the workplace. I have been at Georgia Tech as a Tech Temp for about six months, but I have been here for about 2 years in total. I like working at CEISMC because of the flexibility and getting to know different people and, it's honestly, just a really cool opportunity to be able to expand my knowledge and IT skills. So I feel that when it comes to working here in CEISMC, I can get a little bit of everything."

-James Sands II, IT Support Specialist, CEISMC

“My duties are teaching EXCEL courses, including career and transition for students as well as advising on their potential careers, the task they need to do to get to those career goals, helping them apply for internships and job placements, and then a lot of partnership development. I also setup internship sites for students and support the administrative functions of the EXCEL program such as managing the budget and communicating with external stakeholders via Mailchimp newsletters. I've been at Georgia Tech for six years and like working at Georgia Tech because I get to work with a great group of students and coworkers who are committed to helping each other succeed as described in the mission of the organization. I also like working at a premier institution and being a part of higher education. I like the flexibility that my job offers. With a growing family, being able to support my kids when I need to is great. I like making a difference and creating opportunities that didn't exist otherwise. Also, I really enjoy the variety of tasks that I get to do. As somebody who does career development, I have learned myself about the aspects of my own type of work that I enjoy. And so, in my current role, there's a lot of different things that I'm able to do. I'm not just teaching or just doing administrative work. So, when students need something and/or need some additional support, I'm able to step in and do those different things."

-Nathan Heald, Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director, EXCEL

“I help coordinate K-12 programs with STEM and STEAM in schools around metro-Atlanta. I have been at Georgia Tech for a year now. I like being a part of the college campus because there's a lot of energy, a lot of positive energy, and I like providing outreach in our community and making a difference in our local schools.

-Rachel Warren, Educational Outreach Coordinator, CEISMC

“I started working for EXCEL in August and I teach EXCEL courses and mentor the students. I love that Georgia Tech promotes and allows for so much inclusivity and diversity. That's probably my favorite. You can see students and faculty and staff from all parts of the world with varying abilities, and it's just an environment of inclusivity."

-Nadiah Blackman, Lecturer, EXCEL