Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us, Gift Guide

2025 Gift Guide

Tis the season for holiday feasts and holiday shopping! ITS is happy to share our top gift recommendations for everyone on your list this year. If you have any questions about our gift picks, let us know! Click here for ITS contact information.

Tempest Weather Station, Joe Kalinowski

Here in New England, summer is fleeting, so we need to make the most of every sunny day! The Tempest weather station is my go-to for hyper-local forecasts, real-time data on rain, wind, and lightning, and a handy log for weather trends. No annual subscription required, and it’s perfect for planning outdoor fun or saving chores for rainy days. Plus, who doesn’t love more environmental data! Wait for the 20% off sales!

Click here to see the Tempest Weather Station.

APEKX Bluetooth Receiver, Michael Krikonis

Do you have a friend or loved one that is hanging onto an old phone so that they can keep using their favorite earphones that use a headphone jack (or maybe you are!) If so the APEKX Bluetooth Audio Adapter is a winner. This receiver lets you keep using your favorite wired headphones, charges quickly via USB-C, lasts about 6 hours per charge, and has simple button controls for music and calls. Reliable, affordable, and perfect as a stocking stuffer or holiday party gift.

Click here to view the APEKX Bluetooth Wireless Receiver.

Lego Wildflower Bouquet, Joanne Dolan

Remember those days spent digging through a pile of LEGO bricks, trying to find that one perfect piece? The LEGO Wildflower Bouquet brings back all that nostalgia, but with a twist. It’s so much fun to build with just the right mix of relaxing and satisfying, and when you’re done, you’ve got a colorful bouquet that looks awesome on your desk or kitchen table. If you want a gift that’s playful, creative, and totally display-worthy, this set is it.

Click here to view the Wildflower Bouquet.

iPad Mini, Jason Trinklein

While it might seem obvious, the iPad mini packs a ton of utility into a small tablet – the smallest mainstream tablet out there! Wait for a sale and you can snag one for $400 or less. It’s a fantastic e-reader with a sharp, vibrant screen, and it’s easy to browse for books from Kindle or the library via Libby. Not too big for bedtime reading, not too small for watching movies on the go. Pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard for productivity anywhere, making it a lightweight laptop alternative.

Click here to view the iPad Mini.

WINIX9800 Air Purifier, Jarrod Evans

A good air purifier can make a huge difference in reducing allergens like dust and pollen. The WINIX 9800 is easy to use and maintain, and you can connect it to Alexa or Google Home via the Winix Smart app. It’s a simple way to improve air quality at home and keep the sniffles away. Give your friends and loved ones the gift they didn’t know they needed!

Click here to view the WINIX 9800

M2 NVME Drives, Brian Julin

For serious gamers or anyone working with AI models, large capacity M2 NVME drives are always a welcome upgrade. Games and AI projects keep demanding more (and faster) storage. While RAM can be tricky to gift, it’s easy to check if someone’s device supports an M2 drive. Fast, reliable, and perfect for anyone who needs extra space.

Govee Outdoor Lights, Andy Voelker

Govee’s outdoor colored string lights are perfect for porches, patios, decks, and pool areas. Use the app to set colors, scenes, brightness, and patterns, including holiday themes for Christmas and Halloween. The lights can even sync to music and be scheduled to turn on and off. After two winters, my set is still going strong—reliable and weather-tested, they really bring outdoor spaces to life.

Click here to see the Govee Outdoor Lights.

JBL Wireless Headphones, Becky Tamm-Shettler

I can’t recommend my JBL wireless headphones enough—they’re a daily essential on and off campus. The battery lasts for days, the fit is super comfortable (I sometimes even forget I’m wearing them), and the cord-free design means you can move freely. Whether you’re tuning into meetings, listening to music, or catching up on podcasts, these headphones make everything easier and more enjoyable.

Click here to shop JBL Wireless Headphones.

Get to Know Us, October 2025

Get to Know Us: Jeffrey Lamontagne

This issue, we meet Jeffrey Lamontagne, our Information Security Engineer! He grew up just south of Worcester, and started off planning a radio career, but his knack for building gaming PCs steered him into IT instead. After working his way up from Help Desk Technician to System Administrator at a software company, he eventually joined Clark’s System Administration team before transitioning to his current role in Information Security.

If you ask Jeffrey about his job at a party, he’ll typically keep it simple: “I work in IT.” For most people, that’s enough detail. However, if someone is more interested, he’ll mention that he’s an InfoSec Engineer, and there’s usually some talk about tools or the latest cybersecurity challenges.

One thing Jeffrey appreciates about his work is the constant opportunity to learn. “There’s always something new. Sometimes it gets overwhelming, but mostly it’s a lot of fun,” he says. It’s this ongoing change that keeps him engaged—not just with technology, but also with the people.

Practical cybersecurity advice is something Jeffrey wishes Clarkies would ask about more often. “People don’t ask, ‘What’s the easiest way not to get owned?’ enough,” he jokes. His answer is straightforward: use a password manager like LastPass (which is free for all Clarkies). “Unique passwords mean one compromised account doesn’t ruin everything else. And with the password generator, brute forcing is nearly impossible.” He also recommends pausing before clicking email links or entering credentials, especially when something feels off. “Everyone slips up sometimes, but a password manager makes fixing things a lot easier.”

A perfect day off for Jeffrey includes sleeping in, spending some time outside tackling a home project, and ending up at a concert or a game. In his downtime, he enjoys action RPGs, board games involving puzzles or trivia, and catching hockey games. If he could instantly pick up any skill, he wouldn’t mind mastering golf, which, he figures, would make the walk much more enjoyable.

Interested in learning more about information security, Formula 1, or sharing some golf tips? Reach out to Jeffrey here.

February 2025, Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us: Joanne Dolan

This month, say hello to Joanne Dolan, the Director of Academic Technology and Client Support, who has been with Clark for almost 10 years.

Born and bred in Dublin, Ireland, Joanne got wanderlust while studying Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin. Over the following years, she worked as a director of a sports and tech summer camp in Washington DC, a programmer in Gujarat, India, and an English teacher in Nagoya, Japan. On her travels, Joanne acquired a Wisconsinite husband and moved to Green Bay so he could complete his nursing degree. There, she worked at UW-Green Bay and got a master’s degree in education before Clark came knocking.

Hear from Joanne herself below!

How do you explain your job to people at parties? For my previous positions I used to say I taught teachers how to teach online, but I’d never bore people with my current job! The most I say is that I work in IT!

What’s your favorite part of the job? It’s different every hour, every day, every semester, every year. There’s always something new and cool that people are doing on campus that needs some technology or pedagogical support that we get to help with.

What question do you wish more people asked you at work? Would you like to help us with this exciting project?

What are some fun facts about you?

I love cooking and I’m trying to perfect my dumpling game – I have learned to make my own wrappers, and fold different shapes. I even made soup dumplings last month!
I love to travel, and I’m off to Paris and London soon.
I have previously been known as a crazy pug lady because for most of my marriage we had 4 special need pugs – Lexie with only 1 eye, Toad with only 3 legs, Porter with no eyes and Hammond with half a brain. They’ve all shuffled off this mortal coil so we’re down to a normal 1 pug now – a crazy 6-year-old called Ezio.
My party trick is reading tarot cards which despite not actually believing in, I’ve been told I’m quite good at.
I once got my arm stuck in a vending machine

Get to Know Us, January 2025, Our Favorite Apps, Tips and Tricks

New Year’s Resolutions by ITS

The start of a new year often inspires us to make new resolutions. Maybe you’d like to learn a new language or take care of your health. Keep reading to learn more about ITS’s resolutions and how we’re planning to keep them.

Stretch every day

Tess Walsh, the technology training specialist, is determined to stretch more in 2025 for increased flexibility and improved athletic performance. She recently downloaded Bend, a free app available in the App Store and the Play store. Bend has different stretching routines based on goals, body part, or situation—her current favorite is the six-minute desk stretch.

Click here to learn more about the Bend app.

Increase daily step count

Michael Krikonis, ITS’s manager for client support, is planning to get in more steps this year by using the pedometer feature already installed on his phone. For most Androids, you can find your steps in the Google Fit app; on iPhones, this information is in the Apple Health app. Start stepping now so you’re ready for the walkathon challenge Clark University HR hosts each summer!

Click here to follow directions to find steps & activity on Android phones

Click here to learn more about how to use Apple Health

Read new books

Help Desk Technician Jarrod Evans is excited to read more using the Kindle app on his phone (no Kindle device necessary!). The app is easily installed on phones or tablets and allows him to read on the go whether he’s waiting in line at the pharmacy or taking his lunch break. The Kindle app can also be used with Libby to borrow ebooks from your local library.

Click here to get the Kindle app.

Click here to get started with Libby.

Create a video game

Lev, ITS Help Desk Student Supervisor, hopes to create a video game this year. Currently, he’s developing the storyline for his game, which revolves around a young frog on a quest to reconnect with an old friend. Using Unity as the game engine and Aseprite for art, Lev is eager to dedicate more time to passion projects in 2025.

Limit screen time

Help Desk Coordinator Sharon Griffin-Edson looks forward to reducing screen time on her iPhone to focus more on cooking, walking, and spending time with family. There are many available options, including apps like ScreenZen and Forest, designed to encourage better screen and scrolling habits, as well as the Focus function built into iPhones.

Get to Know Us, January 2025

Get to Know Us: Efrem Sidi-Shire

College student smiling at the camera on a boat wearing a rain jacket and glasses

“My favorite part of working here is definitely the people. I’ve made a lot of friends at the Help Desk. It’s a good working environment.”

This month we meet one of ITS’s incredible student workers: Efrem!

Efrem is a senior at Clark and one of ITS’s Help Desk Student Supervisors. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he is a dual citizen of the United States and England studying political science and Spanish. Last year, he studied abroad in Argentina and highly recommends a visit there for the food, culture, and natural beauty.

At work, Efrem enjoys spending time with his coworkers and solving technical problems. If you’re having an issue, his number one tip is to ask him (and yourself) how to prevent it from happening again.

Outside of his work at the ITS Help Desk, Efrem co-runs Clark’s squash club and plays Spiderman video games.

Check out Clark Squash on Instagram or stop by the Help Desk to say hi!

Get to Know Us, Gift Guide, November 2024, Windows 11

ITS Gift Guide 2024!

While Clarkies have access to The New York Times and its many recipes through Goddard Library, not everyone is so lucky. That’s why Dorothy Erickson, academic technologist, is planning to gift a NYT Cooking subscription to the aspiring culinary connoisseurs in her life. NYT Cooking helpfully provides a digital recipe box and even makes a grocery list based on your selected recipes. Dorothy’s favorite recipes from NYT Cooking include gochujang caramel cookies, Japanese soufflé pancakes, and slow cooker chipotle-honey chicken tacos.

Click here to gift a NYT Cooking subscription!

Self-proclaimed “enthusiastic driver” and campus card coordinator Sean Ryder suggests buying a Viofo A119 dash cam for anyone concerned about safety and accountability on the road. This device records in 1440p at up to 60 frames per second, ensuring clear and detailed footage. It also features excellent night vision, HDR capabilities, and a 140-degree field of view, making it one of the best in the industry. With the Viofo A119, you can capture important details such as license plate numbers, providing peace of mind and valuable evidence in case of any incidents on the road.

Click here to check out the Viofo A119 dashcam on Amazon!

A reliable thermometer might be the secret ingredient your Thanksgiving meal is missing. Cooking by temperature is recommended by the USDA for food safety and relied on by chefs for consistent (and delicious results). With a range of up to 550° F, Joe’s pick can be used for grilling, baking, frying, and candy or sugar molding. It automatically turns on when picked up and rotates its temperature display for easy use no matter where you’re cooking.

Click here to view the Chief Information Officer’s favorite thermometer!

Thais, ITS’s junior endpoint administrator, bought an Aura digital picture frame for her mom last year. According to her, it has been the gift that keeps on giving, as Thais and the rest of her family can quickly and easily surprise Mom with new memories by sending photos directly to the picture frame. As the frame cycles through different photos, it often sparks conversation about favorite trips, meals, and new adventures. Aura is one the best-reviewed digital picture frames on the market, including an interactive touch bar, a speaker for videos, and automatic night mode.

Click here to take a look at the internet’s favorite digital picture frame!

This year, Help Desk technician Jarrod has his eye on the new BOOX Palma, a sleek and portable ePaper/eReader device. Not quite a Kindle, not quite a phone, the Palma is somewhere in the middle: it’s the size and shape of a phone and allows for app installation via the Google Play store, but the unique and responsive eInk display makes it ideal for reading on the go. The Palma also integrates with the Libby app, features a camera for digitizing documents, and automatically adjusts its lighting to your surroundings for an optimal reading experience.

Click here to learn more about this unique device!

If you or your loved one’s green thumb has the winter blues, check out the AeroGarden. Sharon Griffin-Edson, Help Desk coordinator, has this mini herb garden on her kitchen counter and loves it. Known around the Help Desk for her cooking and baking, Sharon claims fresh herbs make all the difference in her dishes. Plus, the AeroGarden comes with everything you need to get started, including plant food, seeds, and a growth light. Other AeroGarden kits can help you grow flowers, cherry tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, and more!

Click here to check out Sharon’s secret culinary weapon!

If you’re tired of ringing ears after a concert or asking your friends to repeat themselves in a crowded restaurant, these versatile ear plugs are for you; Tess Walsh, our tech training specialist, never goes anywhere without them! These unique ear plugs feature a small switch in them to customize noise level. The lowest setting filters out background noise, while the highest setting reduces much more noise for quiet commutes, focus time, or sleep. They also come in cool colors, including gold and silver, for an earring-like look.

Click here to learn more about some incredible ear plugs!

Curious about drones? Michael Krikonis, Manager for Client Support, recommends the SC5 Elite as a perfect choice for beginners.

The SC5 Elite comes as a kit with two batteries, a controller, extra blades, and a carrying case. Michael particularly likes that the controller on this model includes a button for take-off and landing assist to avoid rough landings. The controller also includes a phone mount to pair with your smartphone and the Snaptain flight app to navigate the drone and capture video and images from above. This is a fun, easy-to-fly drone, but be careful in windy weather as it is on the smaller side.

Click here to check out this lightweight drone!

Get to Know Us, October 2024

Get to Know Us: Shasha Yu

This month, we meet Shasha Yu, a Business Analyst & Report Writer in ITS.

Shasha has been with Clark University for 3 years. Before joining Clark, she gained extensive experience in IT project development and management in China, as well as conducting computer science study and research in computer science in the UK. A naturally curious person who loves to explore, Shasha has a multidisciplinary educational background in data analytics, computer science, psychology, and law.

In her role in ITS, Shasha takes raw data and “cooks” it into valuable insights and information just like a chef transforms ingredients into a delicious meal. There is always a new challenge to solve, which is Shasha’s favorite part of the job, and she is on a mission to help people at Clark use data to make better decisions and improve efficiencies. Even though data can be daunting, Shasha takes advice from Laozi, a renowned Chinese philosopher, when working on complicated problems: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (千里之行始于足下).”

Outside of her work at Clark, Shasha loves to travel and read: a perfect day for her would look like spending quality time on a small island, enjoying the natural scenery and getting lost in a good book. To get there, she’d love to learn how to fly an aircraft (especially if she could do it instantly) so she could explore new places freely and see the world from a unique perspective.

If you’d like to connect with Shasha to discuss data, traveling, or philosophy, you can find her contact information here.

Get to Know Us, Resources, September 2024

Get to Know Us: ITS Bot

ITS Bot is an automated support assistant designed to answer ITS-related questions quickly and connect you to the Clark-supported technology solutions you need. Say hi to ITS Bot here!

ITS Bot has been answering questions on the Clark ITS website since 2023. Prior to arriving in Worcester, they “grew up” in Raleigh, NC with over 700 siblings as part of the Ivy AI family. ITS Bot and their family now work at state offices, hospitals, and colleges across the country.

What do you do?

I sort through all the information on the Clark ITS website in a few seconds to provide you with relevant information and guide you to the right place so you can save time and learn more. I can also help you open a ticket with the Clark ITS Help Desk, to get the right help for your question. Best of all, I am available twenty-four hours a day, and just a browse and a click away.

Can you help me do other things, like register for classes or pay my tuition bill?

I can only help with ITS questions right now. You can always call the Clark University main phone number at 508-793-7711 to be routed to the correct office for your request.

Are you a real person?

Nope! I’m an AI assistant. However, I do get occasional support from my human coworkers, so please be kind during our conversations 😊

April 2024, Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us: Becky Tamm-Shettler

This month, we meet Becky Tamm-Shettler, Clark University’s Endpoint Systems Manager.

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Becky has worked in higher education technology for over 30 years, with the past year here at Clark. The best part of her experience working here so far, she says, is getting to spend every day with the incredibly conscientious Endpoint team and connecting with others in the ITS department to learn new things and solve problems.

As Endpoint Systems Manager, Becky is responsible for purchasing and provisioning computer hardware for all university needs—basically, Becky makes sure everyone gets the computer they need to do their best work! To better understand IT work and its processes, she recommends reading Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande or watching the series Halt and Catch Fire, a period drama about the early decades of computer development.

When Becky’s not working, she loves traveling, gardening, hiking, sewing, and riding her ebike. If you’d like to learn more about what she does, or chat about your next travel destination, click here find Becky’s contact information.

Get to Know Us, March 2024

Get to Know Us: Julian Killo

This month, we get to know Julian Killo, a Network Engineer in ITS. Julian started working at Clark in 2022 as a grad student and transitioned to working full-time in September 2023.

Prior to joining the Clark community, Julian worked on major projects, like implementing public WiFi and conducting enterprise resource planning, with the Municipality of Tirana and Bechtel Corporation. With over 15 years of experience in creating successful IT solutions, Julian continues to advance his extensive technical knowledge by pursuing a Master’s in Information Technology while working at Clark.

Being a network engineer means that Julian maintains the behind-the-scenes networks and systems that power organizations (and he gets to play with all the fun tech toys). His favorite part of the job is tackling complex problems and finding solutions that allows Clark to do more through technology. According to Julian, “There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing all the pieces – servers, networks, systems – come together and support organization, performance, and reliability.”

If Julian could learn from any person in history, he’d love to pick the brain of Dennis Ritchie, the American computer scientist who created the C programming language and co-developed the UNIX operating system. This language changed modern computing and still underpins most operating systems today.

When he’s not thinking about networking or programming, Julian loves to watch Premier League and Serie A soccer. If you’d like to chat with Julian about soccer or click here to find his contact information.

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