If you’ve had an audiovisual problem during class, chances are you’ve met Jon Miller, a veteran of Classroom Technology Support. Jon responds to trouble calls from classrooms and lecture halls. One of the most common issues he resolves is failure to get a picture from the projector. “It’s usually a loose connection or maybe the computer needs to be restarted,” he explained, though sometimes he discovers more serious problems like bad cables. Whatever the problem, Jon jumps into action when a report of a media problem in the classroom is reported. In fact, due to his consistently outstanding service he is often requested by name by faculty with whom he has worked in the past. It is not uncommon for Jon to receive an ovation after he has quickly and expertly solved a problem in a lecture hall.
Jon also uses his extensive audiovisual experience for Media Event Support, frequently delivering and setting up equipment for special events. An example of a typical job is setting up a microphone system for conferences and panels. He also records video of events when requested by customers. He currently records sessions of the Dart Neuroscience Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center webcast series. Since starting the series, Jon has improved the image quality of webcasts to give web viewers a better experience. This past May, he also supported TEDxUCSD, helping select the right equipment and working the conference.
In addition to responding to trouble calls and supporting special events, Jon keeps classrooms and lecture halls in tip-top shape. He is responsible for the labeling and signage in the classrooms that make it easy for faculty to operate the media equipment. He also replaces projector lamps throughout the general assignment classrooms and lecture halls.
Jon recently celebrated his 30th year as career staff at UC San Diego. He started working with what was then Audiovisual Services as a student, seeking the department out on his second day as a UC San Diego student. “I knew right off the bat that if I was going to get a job on campus, that’s where I was going,” Jon remembers. Since arriving on campus, he has seen tremendous growth. “It’s a much more vibrant place than it used to be, especially with two new colleges, many new schools, all the new programs that have been developed, [and] everything they’ve done to bolster the reputation of the school.” Even so, some things never change. One of Jon’s dorm housemates turned out to be a future ACMS coworker, Brian Parent.
The next time there’s an issue in a lecture hall or classroom, don’t hesitate to call Classroom Technology Support at (858) 534-5784 to get immediate assistance. You might even be lucky enough to have Jon help you in person!
ACMS Aces is a series of articles that highlights the dedicated employees of Academic Computing & Media Services (ACMS) at UC San Diego. Keep checking back to find out more about the people behind the magic at ACMS!