Photo by Christina VanHorn,
UNH Human Resources

Eleven years ago, Mark Maciolek, of our own Research Computing Center (RCC), began his career at the University of New Hampshire in November 1993, working in an hourly position as a computing troubleshooter for the faculty and staff of Morse Hall, while putting himself through college. After receiving his bachelor's degree in May 1995, Mark was offered an Information Technologist I position in the RCC. Mark is currently responsible for keeping the computer network running in Morse Hall. The Morse Hall network consists of eight communication closets and one machine room with over four hundred network connections. In addition to that, Mark is also responsible for approximately two hundred systems with varying operating systems. Mark sees a vast variety of issues from his customers. From e-mail and printing issues to software installation problems, Mark aims to help all. Mark says, "solving a customer's problem in a timely manner," is the most satisfying part of his job as a network administrator. "The customers are always grateful."

With all these different operating systems and varying components to the Research Computing Centers communications network, Mark explained that he must rely on a good memory and a lot of patience. In order to increase productivity, Mark documents each problem he receives and how they were then resolved. Many problems he faces each day are very similar to problems a future customer will eventually have.

Before coming to UNH, Mark worked at MicroMed while taking courses in computer information services at New Hampshire College in Portsmouth. Prior to that, Mark spent 10 years serving in the U.S. Air Force, traveling to Europe and throughout the United States. During his service in the Air Force, Mark gained an expertise in weather equipment and electronics. He was first stationed at Whitman's Air Force Base Reserve in Missouri, then spent two years in Germany before being stationed in Arkansas and then finally Alaska from 1986-89, working with the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). There, Mark had to the opportunity to learn more about technological equipment and computers. Previous to his work with NOAA, Mark used weather equipment designed for specific jobs that were unchanging. By being introduced to new technology, Mark began to gain many of the skills he uses today at UNH with our ever evolving computing and information technology. "There is always something new," Mark explained. "The university is always getting new hardware, and we have to make sure the new software works too."

Besides staying abreast of all the technological requirements in the university's Research Computing Center, Mark enjoys being in the great outdoors. Whether that is skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer and fall months in the White Mountains with Pepper, his 5 year-old black Labrador. Mark began skiing 20 years ago during his military tour in Alaska. Now he spends his skiing time enjoying the slopes of the Crawford Notch area in northern New Hampshire.