Who's Who at the Computing Center

Meet our new EMU Computer Lab manager

After nearly four years as a student lab consultant in the EMU Computer Lab, Sam Crow stepped into his new role as the lab's manager as easily as if it were an old pair of slippers. His deep technical background, inquiring mind, and helpful nature make this third-generation Oregonian a natural for the job.

Sam's electronic know-how was recognized early in life, and he was always the neighborhood go-to guy for computer problems in Madras, the small Central Oregon ranching community where he grew up. After high school, he gained more advanced technical experience in the Navy, where he was a sonar operator on a ballistic missile submarine.

Always seeking new experiences and a wider world, Sam's next move after his tour of duty was to enroll at the University of Oregon in the fall of 2001. He chose a course of study that mirrors his diverse interests, majoring in English with a minor in Computer Information Technology.

Sam's stint with the EMU Computer Lab began in September 2000, when he was hired as a student lab consultant. Sam found himself in his element: solving problems, helping people, providing a valuable service. He considers his current job as manager, which he assumed last March, a vital hands-on learning experience that will round out his education in his chosen field of educational technology.

Sam often refers to himself as a "dreamer," but if that were true, he couldn't possibly meet the many pressing demands being made upon him. As lab manager, he's now responsible for the "big picture": not only assisting users, but overseeing staff, participating in policy decisions, installing and maintaining new management software for security and imaging, troubleshooting hardware and software problems, and ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly.

Outside of work, Sam's independent streak is manifest in his unorthodox mix of enthusiasms. He prefers Marlowe to Shakespeare, and is equally at home with Mozart and Metallica. He's a devotee of both science fiction and 16th century English literature. And while undeniably a bit of a bookworm, capable of scribbling reflectively for hours in his journal while his cat, Penelope, snoozes nearby, Sam is most definitely not a couch potato. His favorite form of recreation is hitting the road on his prized motorcycle, a Kawasaki Vulcan 750. This summer he plans to take his bike on some longer rides to Crater Lake, the coast, and Central Oregon.