What is your purpose within USC’s Division of Development?

Not your job title. Not your description of duties. Not the tasks you’re given to complete each day.

What is your purpose?

System administrator Patrick Owens would answer, “I make sure people feel secure with their technology.”

It's more than tech support or helping you reset a forgotten password (though he does plenty of that, as well). He seeks to help his colleagues advance their technological literacy skills, claiming it should be “a tool to help” rather than a source of frustration. By interacting with coworkers who have different skills and duties, Patrick is continuously learning more about the many moving parts that make up Development – and that expansion of his repertoire makes him better at his job, in turn.

As an employee within Information Systems, Patrick will never go out in the field and ask people for money. He will never wine and dine donors at Christmas parties or cheer with them from the President’s box. His role is largely behind the scenes, but just as vital. Though his role is not directly tied to fundraising, fundraising could not happen without him.

“Development isn’t just about asking people for money,” he says. “It’s about camaraderie and teamwork, too.”

Though his diverse skills would make him an asset anywhere, Patrick enjoys working at The Division of Development for its community-oriented atmosphere and opportunities to learn new skills.  

Beyond IT tickets and software updates, Patrick is Powered by Purpose by serving others. While he may teach us new technological tips and tricks, he also finds plenty of ways to keep learning more and bettering his craft.

“It’s not always about fixing computers,” he says. “I’m always learning more about them and what they can do.”

 

How have you been Powered by Purpose within your role in Development? Let us know for a chance to be featured in the next newsletter.