Lisa Apostolo

What part of your job brings you the most joy? 

Helping someone have that “ohhh, that makes sense now” moment. Especially when it’s about a tool or process they were convinced was impossible five minutes earlier. Watching confidence replace frustration never gets old. Also hosting our virtual  "Tech Talk" informational shows each semester over Zoom for our TSP's - we have so much fun injecting humor into a 3 hour show to help keep the engagement levels high while the audience is learning technical stuff.

What makes working within ITAC so meaningful to you? 

ITAC is one of those rare places where curiosity is encouraged and humor is allowed. We’re trusted to experiment, try new things, and occasionally break something in the name of learning—then fix it and document it so no one else has to panic later.

What’s something about your job that makes you feel proud? 

Knowing that something I helped design or explain makes someone’s day easier or enhances what they're able to do. If someone saves time, teaches more effectively, or feels less intimidated by technology (or is now excited to use it!), that’s a win.

What inspires you when you come to work each day? 

The people. ITAC is full of smart, generous colleagues who genuinely want to help others succeed. Also, the fact that no two days are ever the same—technology evolves quickly, and so do the questions. And the memes.

What’s your favorite part of collaborating with colleagues? 

The brainstorming. Some of the best ideas start as half-jokes in a meeting and end up as real solutions. There’s a lot of trust and creativity in the room, which makes collaboration both productive and fun.

What’s one project you loved being a part of? 

Tech Talk—because it turns a 3 hour “IT information training and updates” workshop into something people actually want to attend. It’s collaborative, creative, and just chaotic enough to be fun, while still delivering real value to the campus community.

What accomplishment at TXST has meant the most to you? 

Helping create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and trying new things without feeling judged - especially lately with AI. If someone walks away feeling more confident than when they arrived, even excited about it, that matters more to me than any single project.

How excited are you about ITAC implementing AI resources and tools? 

Very excited—and also very committed to doing it thoughtfully. AI has huge potential to save time and enhance learning, but it’s even more exciting when people feel empowered rather than replaced by it. I love hearing out-of-the-box ways people are using it to enhance their jobs here!

How is AI helping to drive TXST forward and in our Run to R1? 

AI does for research what calculators did for math—it removes the grunt work so we can tackle bigger, more interesting problems, and occasionally suggests an idea that makes us stop and say, “...Huh.”