By Apryl Motley – Communications Consultant, MS-CC
Editor’s Note: This Q&A continues off our series of short interviews spotlighting members of the MS-CC community. Be on the lookout for additional interviews each month, and email Sidney Davis if there’s an MS-CC community member you would like us to spotlight in the future or if you would like to be in the spotlight yourself. We appreciate community members and all they do to move our mission forward.
Stephen Bollinger is assistant director for library systems at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). Stephen joined the university’s staff 15 years ago.
“In 2010, I was given an opportunity to expand my career horizons as an academic librarian at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where I have flourished, earned tenure, and was promoted to a unit head in library information technology, serving on the library’s management team,” Stephen explained. “I am proud to have mentored a generation of IT professionals and academic librarian and professional colleagues, which MS-CC has both enabled and assisted.”
NCAT hosted an MS-CC Ransomware Security and Cyberinfrastructure Workshop in June 2022. The university’s former vice chancellor, information technology services and chief information officer, Tom Jackson, currently serves on the MS-CC Consortium Leadership Board.
Stephen’s current research and grant work is focused on closing the digital divide through community engagement and collaboration while effectively integrating cybersecurity practices, values, and competencies.The best part of their job. “Every day is a new adventure; I can immediately witness how my work helps people.”
Read on to learn more about why Stephen values participation in the MS-CC.
More About Stephen Bollinger
Personal Mantra: “I’m going to make them tell me ‘no’.” Rather than give up without trying, I am going to try things, hope, and advocate for people and ask others to do so as well.
Best Advice Ever Received (& from whom): My advisor in grad school, Nathaniel Borenstein, taught me that IT systems are created by people but often discount the people who are meant to use them and to recognize the humanity on both sides of that equation.
How does participation in the MS-CC help you in your current role?
Networking, meeting colleagues, and sharing information and resources has been invaluable! I have learned so much and met so many amazing colleagues across the country that I would otherwise have not.
Is there a particular resource that you find especially useful?
The communities of practice and all-hands meetings, especially because they are well-run, informative, and respectful of everyone’s time.
What would you say to encourage other institutions to participate in the MS-CC?
One of my catchphrases to colleagues is “do not suffer in silence,” meaning that there are others facing the same problems and you will often find solutions and solace without needing to reinvent the wheel.
Why does participation in the MS-CC continue to be important for you/your institution?
The colleagues that I have successfully convinced to participate uniformly report how valuable this organization has been to their work and research. We have learned so much about resources, services, colleagues, and helpful information that we otherwise would not have.