Doug McCallum

Doug McCallum (image by Douglas Levere)

Published November 29, 2018 This content is archived.

Each month, we'll introduce you to an interesting member of the Professional Staff Senate. This month's featured member is Doug McCallum, web services manager in the School of Architecture and Planning.

How long have you worked at UB?

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I have worked at UB for 21 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Every day is different and poses its own challenges. I love the day-to-day challenges.

What's the most difficult part about your job?

While I enjoy the variety and challenges of my position, the most challenging part of my position is prioritizing tasks. When everything is the priority, nothing is.

What would you say is your biggest achievement at UB?

My biggest achievement to date is the launch of my department's website four years ago in UBCMS. At the time, I was tasked with taking UBCMS out of its comfort zone, into a design that was imagined by an outside consultant. In a few short months, we were able to get the necessary style sheet work done, a secondary server in place to support the functionality that UBCMS didn't support at the time, and all of the content and user interface work completed. Since then, the site has had a few major overhauls as we learn and adjust to how prospects and current students use the site. It is constantly transforming and expanding.

Tell us something about your department that isn't well known.

Last year started my department's three-year-long 50th anniversary of the founding of the School of Architecture and Planning. Last year was the 50th anniversary of the SUNY formation of the School of Architecture and Environmental Design. This year is the 50th anniversary of the induction of our founding dean, John Eberhard. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the convening of the first class of students.

If you were to share some advice for other professional staff, what would it be?

As I often tell my son when it relates to school: See your work (school) as a game. Life is meant to be fun and if you are going to spend a third of it at work (school), you might as well enjoy the game.

Do you have any hobbies? What do you do for fun?

I don't do it very often (or as often as I would like) but I love to weld and make things out of scrap metal. Recently, I spend a lot of free time at night doing doodle lunch cards for my son's school lunches.

Do you have a favorite meal you like to prepare?

Homemade mac 'n' cheese and Harvard beets.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I love being outdoors so I'd love to travel to places where nature takes your breath away like the interior of Alaska, the Swiss Alps, the Australian Outback, or the Amazon rainforest.

Any other fun facts about you?

I love old-school Volkswagen Beetles.