Supporting Relationships & Data: Notre Dame's Development Office IT Team

"Behind the Screens IT at ND: Episode 16" features hosts Diana and Scooter, who welcome Rose Michalski, IT Support Services Associate Program Director, and Andrew Yocum, Associate Director of Integration Services, from the University of Notre Dame's Development Office IT and Services Team. This episode delves into the unique IT landscape of the Development Office, which supports over 400 employees across 58 teams and operates as a large IT organization distinct from central OIT. Rose, celebrating 41 years at Notre Dame and retiring soon, oversees end-user support, hardware/software provisioning, AV technology, and daily operational IT needs, including the complex process of CWP deployments and user provisioning/deprovisioning. Andrew's side of the team, comprising about 20 people, focuses on application services (Salesforce CRM, Marketing Cloud), data integration (moving data between systems, Salesforce development with Apex), BI (data warehousing), and reporting/analytics (Tableau, Business Objects), constantly consulting with constituents on data requests and flows. Unique challenges include matching external constituent data to avoid duplicates for their million-plus records, webinar creation and support, managing JP Morgan check scanners, and supporting Notre Dame Day. They've also innovated with Tango hoteling software for collaborative spaces and mobile Zoom carts for conference rooms. Both Rose and Andrew emphasize the importance of compassion, continuous learning, and networking in their consultancy roles, which involve comprehensive hardware/software support, managing AV, account provisioning, and constant data consultation to align with university policies and streamline processes

Takeaways

• Rose has been at Notre Dame for 41 years, showcasing a long career in IT.
• Andrew transitioned from corporate software development to IT at Notre Dame.
• The Development Office has 58 teams, each contributing to fundraising efforts.
• IT consultancy involves providing comprehensive technology support and solutions.
• User provisioning is a complex and time-consuming process.
• The team uses various tools like ServiceNow, Salesforce, and Tableau.
• Collaboration is key in managing IT support and data integration.
• Unique challenges include managing relationships with alumni and parents.
• The team has streamlined processes significantly post-pandemic.
• Rose emphasizes the importance of networking and continuous learning.

About this podcast:
Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you.

Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus.

With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.