Meet Informatics Grad Coordinator Dr. Mike Totaro
Meet Dr. Michael Totaro, the graduate coordinator for the master杏吧专区檚 in informatics program and associate professor in the School of Computing & Informatics. He杏吧专区檚 been recognized for his commitment to the field and to his students. He杏吧专区檚 now leading the state杏吧专区檚 first master杏吧专区檚 program in informatics at the 杏吧专区.
Dr. Totaro杏吧专区檚 career started in computer science. He worked as a programmer after graduating with his bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree and loved it. But after a few years of working in software development, he wanted to learn more.
杏吧专区淚 wanted to understand more about the business side of things, because, quite frankly, I was developing software for business solutions but I knew nothing about business,杏吧专区 he admitted. So he decided to earn his MBA杏吧专区攁nd that led him to informatics.
杏吧专区淭hat really broadened my perspective and expanded my interests to go beyond just the technology: to also recognize fully that, without the end user and end organization, pretty much what I杏吧专区檓 doing is not going to be worth a whole lot,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淭hat杏吧专区檚 what informatics does: it loops back and it always includes杏吧专区攊n a significant way杏吧专区攖he end user and the organization. Early on in my career I recognized the importance of that, and realized it杏吧专区檚 what I杏吧专区檓 really passionate about.杏吧专区
With his MBA, he started working in the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 College of Business Administration in 1989 as the college杏吧专区檚 IT director. The next year, a management professor asked if he would be willing to teach a computer-related course to undergraduates.
杏吧专区淭hat was my first taste of teaching and it really did whet my appetite,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淚 was like, 杏吧专区榃ow, I could see myself doing this at some point in my career.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
He became a full-time faculty member in 1996.
杏吧专区淲hen you see and work with students who are engaged, who seem to have a real interest in the topic, and especially when you observe the lightbulbs going off杏吧专区攖hat杏吧专区檚 what I love,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a sense of gratification because you think, 杏吧专区業杏吧专区檓 doing a small part to help these individuals move forward in meeting their personal goals and their professional goals.杏吧专区 I don杏吧专区檛 see my contribution as major, but it杏吧专区檚 something. I enjoy knowing that I played a small part in that.杏吧专区
Dr. Totaro was for his contributions in the classroom.