Online Learning welcomes a new staff member — lead engineer of operations, Roland Brian.

On January 5, Roland moved from the Educational Technology Center (ETC), where he was the lead engineer of operations for the past five years. He retains the same title at Online Learning.

Roland Brian, Lead Engineer

Roland will be managing the new Teaching & Learning Technology (TLT) Studio in the Wallace Library, room A400, continuing his previous work in designing and implementing audio visual technology. He'll also help support faculty teaching in the TLT Studio.

In addition, Roland will assist groups in Online Learning with projects that involve technology used in campus settings.

"He's a great addition to our team," says Joeann Humbert, director of Online Learning. "He brings the ability to customize the teaching and learning environment in the tools we use for the optimum experience for students."

Roland, who was born in Florida, grew up and went to school in Kentucky. An electronics systems engineer by trade, he has worked in electronics for 24 years. "I've always figured out how things work. I disassembled my first TV at age eight and repaired my first TV at age 11 so I guess it was inevitable that my path would lead towards engineering," he says.

His background includes experience as a satellite communications technician in the United States Air Force, a TV satellite truck engineer and an engineer and client services manager for WXXI-TV. Roland joined ETC in 2004 as its instructional services manager, supporting day-to-day classroom technology and designing and implementing teaching technology in new classrooms.

"I always enjoy working with students, faculty and staff—when you create a new space or update the technology in an older space so that the user doesn’t focus on or fear the technology, then you've created a functional space where the faculty can better engage students by trying new and creative ideas of their own," Roland says.