In conversation with Noelette Hurley
Noelette joined UCC in 2002 as a placement student from Computer Science. Having served her time on the Staff IT Helpdesk (now Service Desk) trouble shooting a wide range of issues and helping UCC staff day to day Noelette secured a position in the IT Training Centre. During her time in the Training Centre Noelette developed and delivered a range of training courses, empowering UCC staff to help themselves.
The UCC website was moved to the T4 platform during this time. Having a technical background and training skills allowed Noelette to take on the T4 CMS training and support. This eventually led to her securing the position of Webmaster. Having served 8 years as webmaster, Noelette is currently transitioning into a new role with in the newly formed Digital Advisory Centre (DAC) that combines her CMS and trouble shooting skills to enable UCC staff to get the most out of the available suite of applications that make up Microsoft 365.
Noelette, what is standard working day for you?
There is no standard day as such as my role is so varied, it could include managing the CMS, project work with the Office of Media & Communications, enabling the rollout of SharePoint, managing digital signage in classrooms, giving advice through our newly formed Digital Advisory Centre to pulling insights from Google Analytics, to name a just few things. Put simply, what I do is enable people to get things done.
What are you career aspirations?
I have advocated for a long time to ensure UCC has an accessible, inclusive website. It is something I am very passionate about and have been for years. One thing I am sure of is that we will all need an inclusive environment at some stage in our lives. I am thrilled to see a massive cultural shift in UCC with the creation of the EDI and Inclusive UCC. These new departments are expanding on the excellent work carried out by the DSS and Access Office.
I was delighted to see that IT Services were creating an Inclusivity Committee. Naturally I jumped at the chance to be part of it and to have the opportunity to make some real and lasting change happen. I hope the committee’s influence will ensure IT Services create an inclusive space that will serve the vast majority of people.
What do you enjoy most about working in IT Services and UCC?
This is easy, the people. I have worked in UCC for 20 years now and I consider myself fortunate to work with likeminded colleagues, some of whom I can call my closest friends. Since returning to the office recently, I realise how important it is to meet and reconnect with people.
I really value being part of the education powerhouse that is UCC and how it encourages people to think independently and critically. I am proud to play my part in making a real difference by enabling the digital infrastructure that supports our university.
We know you love to read, what is your favorite book?
I have been an avid reader from a very young age and asking what my favorite book is, is like asking a parent to name their favorite child! I do have what I call my comfort books, one that I reread and would deem a favorite is Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch, I especially love the quote from this book “do the job in front of you” and I live my life by this quote.
Over the pandemic I lost my passion for reading and found it difficult to find the focus to read a book, it was one of the negative consequences of the pandemic for me. Thankfully my joy of reading returned late last year on a book recommendation from my colleague Myles Corcoran titled A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Since then, I am powering through my stack of unread books and thoroughly enjoying the time I spend immersed in a great story.