Carl Brown Named Employee of the Semester at VSU

Carl Brown, a computer services technician with Valdosta State University's Division of Information Technology, was recently named the Spring 2022 Employee of the Semester. He is pictured with Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU.

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Carl Brown is good at solving problems.

“I enjoy being able to interact with our students, faculty, and staff when they have issues with their electronic devices,” says Brown, a computer services technician with the Division of Information Technology at VSU. “I have the knowledge and resources to troubleshoot whatever concerns they may have.”

Brown joined the VSU staff in September 2018. He was recently named the Spring 2022 Employee of the Semester.

Brown spends his days working in Desktop Support and at the Helpdesk.

As a member of the Desktop Support team, Brown manages the installation and support of computing equipment in professional offices across campus. This often requires him to make on-site visits for troubleshooting, setting up or relocating computers, and providing support for faculty and staff with specialized hardware and software needs.  

Brown serves as the primary supervisor for the Helpdesk, which is located in the Odum Library. He is responsible for training and managing a group of student workers who provide information and assistance to walk-up customers, facilitate wireless connectivity in the residence halls, and maintain technology found throughout the library.

Brown also volunteers to support the technology needs for key campus events, like orientation and commencement, and he is one of the on-call staff for campus technology emergencies. 

Benjamin Li, deputy chief officer for Technical Support Services, describes Brown as “a role model for the values we hope to inspire” across the Division of Information Technology and the rest of the university. He says Brown “truly values customer service, ownership of needs, and responsiveness and is willing to share his knowledge with others.”

Li says many at VSU consider Brown to be their go-to person for anything technology related. They frequently honor him with I Caught You Caring recognitions for his excellent service.

“Carl Brown takes the initiative to tackle challenging issues and responds to the needs of VSU customers to help them perform their jobs efficiently and effectively,” Li adds. “His critical thinking and problem-solving skills are put to the test every time he goes to troubleshoot a complex technical issue in an office or set up technology for an event.  He looks at challenges as opportunities and always provides service with a smile.”

Brown says the most challenging aspect of his job is making sure that he keeps up with the dynamic world of technology, which is constantly evolving to meet the needs of modern society. The rapidly changing technology landscape requires him to make learning — exposing his mind to new ideas, technologies, and processes — a priority.

“Carl Brown is a champion for change and continuous improvement,” Li says. “Service excellence, positivity, and ownership of the needs of others permeate every aspect of what he does. These factors have not only made him an effective campus partner to the customers he serves but also an ideal role model for the employees he supervises. His ability to think beyond the present has highly impacted our ability to be prepared for the future.”

When not serving the university community, Brown enjoys spending time with his family, making music, and taking pictures. He lives in Valdosta with his wife, Kimberly Brown, and their four children, Janaya Brown, 14, MiKayla Brown, 9, Aryn Brown, 7, and Carlisle Brown IV, 1.

VSU’s Council on Staff Affairs presents the Employee of the Semester Award at the end of every fall and spring semester. All full-time classified staff members are eligible to be nominated for the honor. Second place went to Lori Overlaur, administrative assistant for the Office of Financial Services. Third place went to Maggie Vallotton, senior administrative coordinator for College of the Arts Outreach.